Best 4 Square Academy Podcasts (2025)

1
Side Quests FFIX: Square Supersoft (ep 7) 59:48

Play Pause

1h ago59:48

59:48

Concealed in the pickle pack, Garnet crosses back to Alexandrian soil, has her pocket picked in Treno, and spots a creepy figure in the Auction House. Steiner trades in constellation coins for a Blood Sword. Dr Tot interrupts a half-hearted heist for the Supersoft with flashbacks about a young princess reading I Want to Be Your Canary while researc…

1
Night School: The Brothers Karamazov (Pt III) 1:03:46

2h ago1:03:46

1:03:46

On the death of the father and pursuit of delirium.

1
Night School: The Brothers Karamazov (Part II) 1:00:46

2h ago1:00:46

1:00:46

Discussing the Grand Inquisitor and other light topics.

1
Side Quests FFIX: "World Big Place. Many many foods" (ep 6) 1:11:31

6d ago1:11:31

1:11:31

Through Qu Marsh, Chocobo Forest, Gizamaluke Grotto, and on to Burmecia. Gameplay considerations galore. For more: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-ix/ Thanks for listening!

1
Side Quests FFIX: Fairy Tale, Myth, Theater, Festival (ep 5) 1:08:39

4d ago1:08:39

1:08:39

Cid the Oglop, Freya the Dragon Knight, and Grandma Pickle the peddler join our adventurers in Lindblum for the Great Hunt. For more: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-ix/ Thanks for listening!

1
Side Quests FFIX: Dali and the Surreal Wonder of Mass Production (ep 4) 51:27

13d ago51:27

51:27

Back from Marrakesh, Alex joins me to discuss Dali, both the 20th artist and the first village in our FF9 adventure. Characters transform and villains mirror one another. Airships go kaboom. Vivi suffers a crisis and enters Trance, whilst Zidane keeps trying to steal that rare loot. https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fanta…

1
Night School: Brothers Karamazov 1:03:13

20d ago1:03:13

1:03:13

Dostoevsky's masterpiece, introduction and part 1. Getting to know the characters and asking questions about sin. More to come!

1
Side Quests FFIX: Mist and Ice as Symbols of the Series (ep 3) 1:03:54

27d ago1:03:54

1:03:54

Professor Schmid and I direct ourselves in the middle of life's way out of the dark wood (RIP Blank?) of an Evil Forest and through the Ice Cavern. Rising above the Mist, we consider the name changes and character arcs thus far. For more resources, see the course page: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-ix/ Thanks …

1
Persona 4: Golden - Tropes and Shadows (ep 2) 1:05:40

1M ago1:05:40

1:05:40

Professor Kozlowski and I will be meeting Thursdays in the discord and we'd love for a few more students to join in the discussion of Persona 4: Golden and its place in the culture. For more resources: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/persona-4-golden/ This time we look at the opening act, main characters, and power dynamics i…

1
Side Quests FFIX: I want to be or not to be your canary (ep 2) 1:12:51

1M ago1:12:51

1:12:51

Shakespeare and Scheherazade, FFVI opera and FFVII rooftops remixed and Mage-mashed on the airship stage. For more, see the course page: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-ix/ Thanks for listening!

1
Video Game Academy: Persona 4 Golden Intro 43:44

2M ago43:44

43:44

If you listen to this episode on a rainy night while looking into an old TV, you might catch a glimpse of your soul mate. And/or be pulled into another world, help solve a murder, unlock arcane abilities, etc. Professor Kozlowski and I will be meeting Thursdays in the discord and we'd love for a few more students to join in the discussion of Person…

1
Side Quests FFIX: Garnet's Awakening (Ep 1) 58:03

1M ago58:03

58:03

From the Princess in Alexandria's fairy-tale castle to monkey-tailed Zidane and his crew aboard the airship, and then down among the rabble and rat kids with an unnamed Black Mage, we start a new game in our Side Quests series, Final Fantasy IX. We hope to discuss the game as well as respond to some of the commentary out there, such as Resonant Art…

1
Night School: Pushkin, Eugene Onegin 38:03

2M ago38:03

38:03

And Nabokov, again. Alex and I join a conversation that has been going on for some time-- Reviewed by Edmund Wilson: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1965/07/15/the-strange-case-of-pushkin-and-nabokov/ Nabokov replies: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1965/08/26/letters-the-strange-case-of-nabokov-and-wilson/ The text of Nabokov's translation of th…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ultimecia's Castle and Ending (24/24) 1:01:40

2M ago1:01:40

1:01:40

Exploring Ultimecia's Castle and all but one of its boss battles, we spend some time thinking about the implications of the end cutscenes and final thoughts the game wants to leave us with. This brings us to the end of our FFVIII discussions for now, but join the weekly discord to connect, Ellone-like, anytime. For more FFVIII study resources, see …

1
Night School - Crime and Punishment 1:02:53

2M ago1:02:53

1:02:53

Justin joins us to discuss the Dostoevsky book most people who ever read him read first--or if not Crime and Punishment, Notes from Underground. Over the past year, we've read most of his major works, and we'll be back at some point with a discussion of The Brothers Karamazov. Also mentioned: Mr Grenke's essay on Chekhov: https://s3.us-east-1.amazo…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 23: Fujin Talks Sense 57:19

3M ago57:19

57:19

Back from summer break here at the Video Game Academy, and this time we delve into Lunatic Pandora, battling Fujin and Raijin, Mobile Type 8, Seifer, and Adel, crossing into Disc 4. We have one more week to go in FFVIII. So what's next? Alex speculates about starting right over to play more cards. I'm thinking Tactics or FFIX would be the move. Let…

1
Night School - Pale Fire 1:04:59

3M ago1:04:59

1:04:59

Welcome to the return of Night School, a segment Alex and I had going for awhile back in the day reading and discussing classic literature. We're calling this installment Night School Pt Deux: The Ennightening. With Babcock, our friend from St John's, we read/play and reread/replay Nabokov's Pale Fire. Text: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 22: You vant to fisticuffs!? 34:16

4M ago34:16

34:16

Approaching the end of disc 3, President/Dad Laguna has a plan! A corny, foolproof plan to overcome time compression with love, friendship, and courage! For more, Ragnarok on over to https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/ Thanks for listening!

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 21: Propagators on a Plane 1:05:25

4M ago1:05:25

1:05:25

Space romance and Ragnarok blasting "Eyes On Me". For more, see https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/ Thanks for listening!

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 20: Yeah, Yeah, Knight in Shining Armor 53:12

4M ago53:12

53:12

On the space station built for keeping an eye on the moon and the sorceress in stasis, we get it. Thanks for listening! For more FFVIII study resources: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 19: A Squall-like Game 1:14:06

4M ago1:14:06

1:14:06

Laguna's making movie magic with a Ruby Dragon and rescuing Ellone in Esthar, while Squall carries Rinoa piggyback from the White SeeD Ship to that same futuristic city hidden by dragon bones in the salt lake. Thanks for listening! For more FFVIII study resources: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/…

1
Side Quests FFVIII - Ep 18 Download the Holy Machine 53:37

5M ago53:37

53:37

Boss rushes and aerial choreography above the melee, with pauses to discuss Squall's ring. Most challenging of all: playing cards with the random rules, stacked onto sames and plusses... Ultimecia/ Artemisia makes her appearance, plotwise, along with Cerberus and Alexander in quick succession, and Rinoa goes into a coma after Seifer departs. Welcom…

1
Side Quests FFVIII - Ep 17 A Game Made for Outsiders 46:27

5M ago46:27

46:27

Back from our momentous side quest to Manchester, we debrief the Multiplatform 2025 Rituals of Play conference and share some takeaways. See https://videogameacademia.org/2025/06/06/rituals-of-play-a-side-quest-to-manchester/ for more. Next time, we'll dive back into FFVIII proper with the Garden Battle and mosey on to the end of Disc 2. Thanks for…

1
Side Quests FFVIII - Ep 15 Agnostic Worldbuilding 1:07:24

5M ago1:07:24

1:07:24

Lengthy description of a trio of side quests (Shumi Village, Chocobo Forest, and Tonberry King) leads into reflections on Fujin and Raijin as foils to Squall and the team, busy with their own long conversations at last revealing lost memories on the broken basketball court of Trabia Garden. Leapfrogged in release order by our episode 16 on Game Stu…

1
Side Quests FFVIII - Ep 16 Chivalric Romance 59:51

6M ago59:51

59:51

Time to prep for Manchester Game Centre's Multiplatform 2025 Conference: Rituals of Play, where we'll be presenting on FFVII and FFVIII, respectively. Shout-outs to Signum University and the Game Studies Study Buddies, among other scholars and sources. For more FFVIII study resources: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fan…

1
Side Quests FFVIII - Ep 14 Travesty of a Concert 1:01:54

6M ago1:01:54

1:01:54

Rinoa rage quits on most runs, but with just the right (wrong) choice of instruments, the romance on the solar panels plays out at more leisure. Perhaps it's fitting that our audio is even rougher than usual? Sorry about that! For more FFVIII study resources: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/ Thanks for list…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 13: Eschatological Flavor 1:00:27

6M ago1:00:27

1:00:27

We clamber over Fisherman's Horizon and consider Parallel Lives and horospheres among its disciples of the way of nonviolence (aside from inadvertent miscasts by the shop). For more FFVIII study resources: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/ Thanks for listening…

1
Side Quests FFVIII - Ep 12: Garden Factions 59:17

6M ago59:17

59:17

Balamb Garden as Midgar; as Ithaka overrun with suitors; as Inferno. Encounters with the luciferean capitalist empodded in one of the basements and magic machinery larded with fossil fuels in the layers of several others. Both power a Garden that moves, dodges missiles, comes unmoored and comes dangerously close to wrecking the town before it squal…

1
Side Quests FFVIII - Ep 11: Error Ratio All the Way Up 42:02

7M ago42:02

42:02

Missile Base Mission, feat. Selphie, Rinoa, and Irvine. Is Squall Dead is one thing, but after this part the better question looks like "What about Selphie and whoever else went to the missile base?" For more FFVIII study resources: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/ Thanks for listening!…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 10: Prison Risen 59:26

7M ago59:26

59:26

Desert transformations in the D-District Prison. For more FFVIII study resources: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/ Thanks for listening!

1
Tim Summers on Video Game Music and the Mythic Quality of MOTHER/EarthBound 1:01:15

7M ago1:01:15

1:01:15

In conversation with Dr Tim Summers of Royal Holloway, University of London, and Ludomusicology, the video game music research group. https://pure.royalholloway.ac.uk/en/persons/timothy-summers https://www.ludomusicology.org/ His new book is Pixel Soundtracks: Exploring Video Game Music Through Twenty Games You'll hear snippets of audio from Buck R…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 9: Quite a Studly Laguna 1:01:13

7M ago1:01:13

1:01:13

We're at the start of Disc 2, beginning again in Winhill and then finding ourselves in the Galbadian Prison with nary a save point in sight. From music-box idylls to techno-crucifixions--what's that, Moomba? Laguna's been watching over Squall just as we've been dreaming of him...? For more FFVIII study resources: https://videogameacademia.org/cours…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 8: Procession of the Sorceress 1:12:58

8M ago1:12:58

1:12:58

A botched sorceress assassination takes us up to the end of Disc 1, drawing dispel from her and casting reflect with the aid of a Guardian Force drawn from the statues she animates. For more FFVIII study resources: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/ Thanks for listening!…

1
Project Moon and Rituals of Play 1:05:21

8M ago1:05:21

1:05:21

What happens when gacha mechanics meet mythic storytelling on the latest Project Moon mobile game, Limbus Company? We discuss Professor Kozlowski's proposal for Manchester Games Centre's Multiplatform 2025 conference on the theme "Rituals of Play". More on https://videogameacademia.org/ Thanks for listening!…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 7: Labyrinths 1:11:48

8M ago1:11:48

1:11:48

In the Tomb of the Unknown King, turning right and contemplating brotherhood and perspective. For more FFVIII study resources: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/ Thanks for listening!

1
FFVII Archaeology Club 52:42

8M ago52:42

52:42

Remember that mini game where you can dig up the mop? In this conversation we take a step back and revisit Final Fantasy VII, since Steve has been speedrunning it lately. For more FFVII study resources, see http://videogameacademia.org/courses/past-semesters/final-fantasy-vii/ To be continued, with a closer look at Ben's essay: http://videogameacad…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 6: Sleep Conceit 1:15:01

8M ago1:15:01

1:15:01

Dante carried in his sleep by angels; Don Quixote in the Cave of Montesinos; Squall and his young mercenaries learning their history through the medium of a dream. We yap this time from the Laguna dream sequence in the forest to the drama in Galbadia Garden. For more FFVIII study resources: https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/fin…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 5: Triple Triad Siren Song 1:00:11

9M ago1:00:11

1:00:11

We're bound to the mast with wax in our ears, playing blind and playing leapfrog through the overworld around Timber. Also, a Sorceress and her boy.For more FFVIII study resources : https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/Thanks for listening!

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 4: Oh, the forests of Timber sure has changed 59:52

9M ago59:52

59:52

But the moogles, chocobos, and loveable misfit rebel groups are still here. Returners, AVALANCHE, step aside: the Owls are still around. From the Training Center to the trains of Timber, swerving Homerically/Quixotically into a dream sequence with Laguna and Julia, and plotting with the Owls. For more FFVIII study resources : https://videogameacade…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 3: FF8 is Capitalism 1:08:25

9M ago1:08:25

1:08:25

Did you pass the SeeD Exam? I heard you only have to kill a hundred people to get a perfect score! For more FFVIII study resources : https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/ Thanks for listening!

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 2: Draw Me a Sheep--er, GF 1:05:52

9M ago1:05:52

1:05:52

That's pronounced gee ef. The Little Prince > FFVIII (but then again, The Little Prince > almost everything else, n'estc-ce pas? With Alexander Schmid, replaying and reflecting on Final Fantasy VIII. A few more preliminaries this time: guides, versions, whys and wherefores... Storywise, we're through Fire Cavern and SeeD exam, respectively. For mor…

1
Side Quests: FFVIII - Ep 1: Garden Salad Days 1:05:52

10M ago1:05:52

1:05:52

That's pronounced ef ef vee ay ay ay. With Alexander Schmid, replaying and reflecting on Final Fantasy VIII. Apologies for dog- and cat-related interruptions. For more FFVIII study resources : https://videogameacademia.org/courses/current-semester/final-fantasy-viii/ Thanks for listening!

1
Philip Pullman's Fairy Tales: The Firework-Maker's Daughter 1:15:12

10M ago1:15:12

1:15:12

Audio from a broadcast for Signum Academy on Twitch in Fall 2020. After the Summer of Storytelling, it was the Fall of Philip Pullman! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Slides⁠⁠⁠⁠ to accompany the ⁠⁠video⁠⁠ (⁠⁠part 1⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠part 2⁠⁠). Quite a few of these are uploaded to YouTube, and there may be even more still lingering in the Twitch archives. I tried to track the project ⁠⁠…

1
Philip Pullman's Fairy Tales: The Scarecrow and His Servant 1:07:21

10M ago1:07:21

1:07:21

Audio from a broadcast for Signum Academy on Twitch in Fall 2020. After the Summer of Storytelling, it was the Fall of Philip Pullman! ⁠⁠⁠Slides⁠⁠⁠ to accompany the ⁠⁠video⁠⁠ (⁠part 1⁠ and ⁠part 2⁠). Quite a few of these are uploaded to YouTube, and there may be even more still lingering in the Twitch archives. I tried to track the project ⁠⁠⁠here⁠…

1
Philip Pullman's Fairy Tales: Clockwork 1:02:20

10M ago1:02:20

1:02:20

Audio from a broadcast for Signum Academy on Twitch in Fall 2020. After the Summer of Storytelling, it was the Fall of Philip Pullman! ⁠⁠Slides⁠⁠ to accompany the ⁠⁠video⁠⁠ (part 1 and part 2). Quite a few of these are uploaded to YouTube, and there may be even more still lingering in the Twitch archives. I tried to track the project ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. As S…

1
Philip Pullman's Fairy Tales: From the Brothers Grimm 46:33

11M ago46:33

46:33

Audio from a broadcast for Signum Academy on Twitch in Fall 2020. After the Summer of Storytelling, it was the Fall of Philip Pullman! Slides to accompany the video. Quite a few of these are uploaded to YouTube, and there may be even more still lingering in the Twitch archives. I tried to track the project here. As Signum is rebranding some of its …

1
Philip Pullman's Fairy Tales: Intro 44:09

11M ago44:09

44:09

Audio from a broadcast for Signum Academy on Twitch in Fall 2020. After the Summer of Storytelling, it was the Fall of Philip Pullman! ⁠Slides⁠ to accompany the ⁠video⁠. Quite a few of these are uploaded to YouTube, and there may be even more still lingering in the Twitch archives. I tried to track the project ⁠here⁠. As Signum is rebranding some o…

1
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Harry Potter 36:18

12M ago36:18

36:18

The preview session for Video Game Studies in SPACE. Inviting students to share their delight in, and deepen their appreciation of, video games, we will discuss examples of the art, music, gameplay, and story from a range of influential titles. We will introduce and experiment with some of the theoretical frameworks that have been applied to video …

1
EarthBound and The Golden Compass, revisited 41:42

12M ago41:42

41:42

A talk given at Cascade Moot (August 31, 2024) on the theme: "From the Fringe: The Importance of Secondary and Tertiary Characters" A Tale of Two Tonys: Loss and Recovery in The Golden Compass and EarthBound Presentation slides - essential for playing Name That Tony! with us and reading text boxes from EarthBound Reflecting on two secondary charact…

1
Teaching Video Games 43:37

1y ago43:37

43:37

The audio from a discussion held at TexMoot 2024. Among the voices you'll hear is that of Corey Olsen, the host of the event and president of Signum University. This one proved more engaging than my talk on Final Fantasy and King Arthur. I don't know if that was because it was more open-ended and participatory, of if it was because the other was at…