Best Austin From Sound Design Podcasts (2025)

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Where the heck is Morley? Good Games Morley on breaking the algorithm as Magic The Gathering stars 22:28

Play Pause

5d ago22:28

22:28

You've probably seen their videos, you might have even pondered where the hell is Morley. Well its in our hometown and we travelled all the way across the country to chat to some people who are like a 20minute drive away. Vi, Riley Aaron and Ricky from the Good Games Morley⁩ crew shared how they've actually defeated and consumed the algorithm, how …

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S1E10 - A Very Harper-Campbell Christmas 23:02

25d ago23:02

23:02

The Harper-Campbell Family heads to a snowy cabin for the holidays, but when Kaylie’s Game Boy bites the dust, she launches a full-blown investigation. And just when things settle down, there’s a knock at the door that changes everything. It’s the season finale of Thank Goodness It’s Family, and it’s one Christmas they’ll never forget!…

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S1E9 - The Cincinnati Kids 20:35

25d ago20:35

20:35

The Harper-Campbell crew heads to Dragon’s Belly Amusement Park in Cincinnati for a once-in-a-lifetime honor. But when Kaylie goes missing, the moment they’ve been waiting for might happen without them. Can the gang find her before Randy and Pete find out? Or will this amusement park adventure end in disaster?…

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S1E8 - The Braden Fields Show 22:59

25d ago22:59

22:59

Pete and Randy’s latest client, Braden Fields, is no stranger to uncovering the truth. But when Aisha and Beth cook up a plan to score an exclusive interview with Braden, deception becomes a family affair. Will he fall for their act—or turn the tables and expose them first? The character Braden Fields (BRADLEY GARETH) crosses over from the award-wi…

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GAVIN VERHEY principal designer of MAGIC on gamebreaking FF8 Vivi, Universes Beyond & potential Australia set 14:40

2M ago14:40

14:40

The SIFTER team had a chance to talk to Gavin Verhey from Wizards of the Coast at PAX AUS 2025. Gavin is the principal designer of Magic: The Gathering and also the lead designer on many Magic sets including the record breaking Final Fantasy set. We chat about the infamous Vivi Ornitier card and what it’s like designing cross over sets for Magic. W…

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S1E7 - Bye, Felicia 22:07

2M ago22:07

22:07

To win over a tough client, Pete and Randy pull out all the stops with a special gift for her beloved cat. But when the client takes a bite out of the “treat,” their business deal could go straight to the litter box. Meanwhile, Kaylie’s latest scheme promises fast cash for her friends…until their empty stomachs land her in hot water.…

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Keeping the party going, the Jackbox developers share JACKBOX PARTY PACK 11 and what is coming next 12:34

2M ago12:34

12:34

Nom from the SIFTER team catches up with Allard Laban and Mike Bilder from Jackbox Games to chat about the upcoming The Jackbox Party Pack 11 at PAX Australia 2025. This new pack builds on everything fans love about the series and introduces five fresh games that will have you laughing, scheming and showing off your creativity. But that’s not all. …

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S1E6 - Hunt or Be Haunted 21:21

2M ago21:21

21:21

The Harper-Campbells get ready for the spookiest night of the year! But when the ghost in the library starts getting too real, things take a chilling turn for Aisha and Beth. Meanwhile, Pete and Randy’s Halloween tradition is alive and well, but Kaylie’s got a secret that could change things forever.…

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S1E5 - Radio Ga Ga 21:36

2M ago21:36

21:36

Aisha and Beth uncover a hidden gem at school—an abandoned radio station. Meanwhile, Jason’s first day working at the ad agency takes an unexpected turn. Can the girls revive the station? And will Jason’s new job be the start of something big or just one big disaster?By Bargo Productions

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Behind Ghost of Yōtei: Quest design, Cinematic samurai influences & Designing around different play styles 31:10

2M ago31:10

31:10

In this interview recorded at PAX Australia 2025, we sit down with Rob Davis, Campaign Director at Sucker Punch Productions, to dive deep into the making of Ghost of Yōtei, out now on PlayStation 5. Rob shares insights into quest design & player choice and how the team shapes quests, major fights, and designs with different playstyles in mind. How …

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S1E4 - A Different World 22:38

2M ago22:38

22:38

The family is ready to put Jason’s old bedroom to good use. But when Jason moves back in unexpectedly, everything changes. Randy smells a cover-up… Will Jason come clean, or will the truth go up in smoke? The character Dejuan Coleman (JARED J. LEE) crosses over from the award-winning sci-fi podcast, Lucidus Somnia.…

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S1E3 - Class Act 21:23

2M ago21:23

21:23

Aisha is ready to take center stage as the lead in the school play. But when Beth unexpectedly lands the role instead, Aisha’s dream turns into a nightmare. Will their sisterhood survive the spotlight? Or will Beth’s big break lead to a big breakup?By Bargo Productions

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S1E1 - Dance to the Heat (Pilot) 24:41

3M ago24:41

24:41

Aisha and Beth ditch the school dance for a night out at the hottest club in town. But before they can pull it off, can they sneak past the ultimate bouncers—Pete and Randy? Or will they get busted before they even hit the dance floor?By Bargo Productions

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S1E2 - Surprise, Surprise 21:09

3M ago21:09

21:09

It’s Pete and Randy’s 10th anniversary… and the kids have big plans. Meanwhile, dinner turns into a disaster for the happy couple. Can the kids pull off a surprise without setting the kitchen on fire? Or will Randy and Pete’s night out make them wish they’d just stayed home?By Bargo Productions

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Moving on from CELESTE and why cancelling EARTHBLADE felt right 32:35

3M ago32:35

32:35

Seven years on, CELESTE's impact is still felt on the gaming world. A hard but fair 2D platformer with a heartfelt story about self-acceptance, it's a game that lives on in the hearts of many. Viewed by LGBTQIA+ players as a relatable trans allegory, Celeste also represents a deeply personal journey for its creators. Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry of…

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Thank Goodness It's Family - Trailer 1:45

4M ago1:45

1:45

One house. Two dads. Four kids. Zero chill. Meet the Harper-Campbells: a blended family navigating life, love, and laugh-out-loud chaos in 1991 Austin, Texas. From the same universe of the award-winning sci-fi podcast Lucidus Somnia comes a 90s-style sitcom — in audio form. Hit play, and welcome to Thank Goodness It’s Family — where the jokes land …

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The Balcony - Allison Page 3:23

5M ago3:23

3:23

About This Episode It's Micro Monday and this week we're headed to fair Verona with the wonderfully weird and hilarious short comedy, The Balcony by Allison Page. About the Playwright Allison Page is a writer & comedian in Nashville, Tennessee. She was a semifinalist for the 2025 Clubbed Thumb Biennial Commission for There Have Been a Series of Mir…

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Pulpy point and click THE DRIFTER is one of this year's most stylish games 33:00

5M ago33:00

33:00

Dave Lloyd, co-founder of indie studio Powerhoof, returns to the show to talk about THE DRIFTER, a gritty point-and-click adventure set against a distinctly Australian backdrop. With evocative pixel art, sharp voice performances, and thriller-inspired storytelling, THE DRIFTER marks the studio’s first major narrative outing after the multiplayer ch…

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History in the Making - Clinton Festa 4:34

5M ago4:34

4:34

About This Episode It's Micro Monday, and we're bringing you a fast, funny audio comedy: History in the Making by Clinton Festa! History in the Making was the 2023 Cary Playwrights' Forum Playslam winner. About the Playwright Clinton Festa started his career as a cartoonist and writer for his campus humor magazine. His plays have been produced nati…

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Best of Stories Found: 5 Calls - Ladi Loera 31:28

6M ago31:28

31:28

About This Episode This fan-favorite story by the incredible storyteller, Ladi Loera, returns as part of our Best of Stories Found series — now featuring our new format that brings the story right to the front of the episode and then offers a behind-the-scenes interview with the storyteller. Whether you're hearing this story for the first time or t…

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The Sound of Indie Symphony II with Austin Wintory 32:15

6M ago32:15

32:15

Award-winning composer Austin Wintory returns to the podcast to discuss his work on Indie Symphony II, a concert series performed by Orchestra Victoria on July 3 and 4 2025. Austin shares insights into the creative process behind scoring indie games like ABZÛ and Hades II, and how these soundtracks come to life in a live orchestral setting. We also…

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Vows - Jonathan Wickremasinghe-Kuhn 3:45

7M ago3:45

3:45

About This Episode It's Micro Monday! This week we're featuring the short audio comedy, VOWS by Jonathan Wickremasinghe-Kuhn About the Playwright Jonathan Wickremasinghe-Kuhn grew up in Selma, Alabama and attended the University of Southern California, where he received both his BFA in Writing for Screen and Television and his Master of Professiona…

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TEMPOPO is the rhythm puzzle game from the makers of UNPACKING 35:01

7M ago35:01

35:01

The UNPACKING team return with their next game, the musical puzzle game TEMPOPO and composer and sound designer Jeff Van Dyck joins Lightmap for another episode. Pick the right sequence, keep trying until you get it right and find the flowers to rebuild your garden, this puzzle game for all ages is colourful and joyful. Find out what inspires Jeff …

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LUSHFOIL PHOTOGRAPHY SIM ask you to open the lens and take in the beautiful isolation 24:11

9M ago24:11

24:11

LUSHFOIL PHOTOGRAPHY SIM is all about the vibes and heavily inspired by developer Matt Newell's own treks around the world with camera in hand. Originally starting as a project to create some fantastic scenery it morphed into a camera sim and featuring locations like Meelup and Castle Rock Beach in Matt's home state of Western Australia and his new…

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Setting your own limits: CITIZEN SLEEPER 2: STARWARD VECTOR builds on the scifi roleplaying game 43:07

9M ago43:07

43:07

CITIZEN SLEEPER 2: STARWARD VECTOR is a special kind of game, one that builds so gently and thoroughly on its predecessor, with a bigger universe to explore for lovers of heartfelt science fiction. Developer Gareth Damian Martin joins us again, to share design intentions about expanding this world, how players narrativise every choice they make, an…

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The best videogame soundtracks of 2024 - Meena Shamaly's top 21 tracks from 13 games 1:01:33

11M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

One of my favourite things each year is when Meena Shamaly host of Game Show on ABC Classic sends me the big list of tracks that have made a massive impact. These games might not be winning massive awards, a lot of them do of course, but you know every piece of music you’re going to hear has made an impact on Meena’s heart. Meena Shamaly who is a c…

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Valve's Steam Deck designers on the making of the groundbreaking handheld computer 22:17

1y ago22:17

22:17

It took a couple of years but the Steam Deck is officially available today for players in Australia. The reason? Well why don't we let designers Lawrence Yang, Jay Shaw and Yazan Aldehayyat explain. Gianni sat down with Valve's handheld makers in Melbourne to learn how player behaviour has changed with the launch of the portable computer, what to e…

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Making history anew with CIVILIZATION VII, the next game in the milestone series 31:34

1y ago31:34

31:34

With a game series as long running as CIVILIZATION, how do you keep reinventing and refining when you hit the seventh title? With long campaigns and countless hours for each play through, these games take on a life of their own for each player. Recently at Melbourne International Games Week Firaxis Games developers Andrew Frederiksen (Lead Producer…

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Racing and liquid raves PHANTOM SPARK is precision racing without the pressure 40:07

1+ y ago40:07

40:07

If you love the feeling of racing until you perfect the line PHANTOM SPARK might be exactly what you're looking for. Joon Van Hove (NUTS) one part of Icelandic studio Ghosts shares how Torfi Asgeirsson nailed the gameplay before anyone else even came on board. How subtle storytelling, but no plot, was an essential design element, that builds to com…

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Comedy specials and a brand new Gameboy game, comedian Tommy Dassalo on SUPER DASSALO LAND 46:56

1+ y ago46:56

46:56

Comedian Tommy Dassalo who you might know from podcasts Filthy Casuals and Little Dum Dum Club, thought it might be too narcissistic to make a game about yourself and charge for it. Lucky SUPER DASSALO LAND is a free prequel to his latest comedy special, so therefore not as narcissistic, and he teamed up with talented Gameboy creator Gumpy Function…

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Complexity is fun, designing the DISNEY LORCANA trading card game 23:55

1+ y ago23:55

23:55

Have you every wondered what it takes to design one of those sprawling trading card games? It's not that often that a news series pops up, there are a few major series but one of the newest to hit the tabletops is DISNEY LORCANA by Ravensburger. Ryan Miller is the co-designer and brand manager and sat down to share how a childhood love of Dungeons …

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SCHIM is a cute joyful stealth puzzle set in the shadows of the real world 27:00

1+ y ago27:00

27:00

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent…

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CAPES is a super heroic tactics game from the makers of HAND OF FATE 25:12

1+ y ago25:12

25:12

Have you ever wanted to make the ultimate super hero teamup? Inspired by XCOM: CHIMERA SQUAD, CAPES is the new tactical super hero game where positioning and combo moves are the way to win. Want to put together your own fastball special? Squad composition and positioning is the way to win. Cade Franklin one of the original team on HAND OF FATE join…

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COZY CARAVAN has cute stepped animations and chill lo-fi vibes 29:59

1+ y ago29:59

29:59

Chris Conte & Dean Ferguson from Queensland's 5 Lives Studios share COZY CARAVAN and ask you te enjoy lo-fi hip hop beats to open a market stall to. Learn why the team wanted to make something that was decidedly smaller than their previous titles, designing this cool stepped animation and why they still want to return to SATELLITE REIGN one day. Ap…

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BALADINS is a time-loopy RPG for up to four pals where you can't save everyone at once 35:59

1+ y ago35:59

35:59

Can't get your friends to come join you at your house for a night of tabletop gaming? BALADINS by French studio Seed by Seed takes the fun of rolling dice and playing a character and distills it to a cool timeloop adventure. Jean Nicholas and Thaïs Arias join Lightmap to share their narrative game which was featured as part of Ludonarracon, their c…

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League of Geeks almost shut up shop, their last big play is SOLIUM INFERNUM 44:58

1+ y ago44:58

44:58

It's been nearly eight years since Trent Kusters one of the co-founders of Melbourne's League of Geeks joined me on the podcast. Back in the Pixel Sift days, Trent was working through the early days of ARMELLO their groundbreaking digital board game, but the last twelve months have been some of the hardest for the company. JUMPLIGHT ODYSSEY was she…

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BERSERK BOY is a fast paced platformer with the soul of Sonic the Hedgehog 24:30

2y ago24:30

24:30

Did you grow up blasting through Green Hill Zone or Casino Night Zone? Maybe you spent hours defeating the nefarious schemes of Dr Wily. These colourful platformers hold a fond place in the hearts of many including Zu Ehtisham solo developer of the new BERSERK BOY where you blast through levels switching elemental powers as you go. Learn how Zu bui…

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The enduring appeal of FRUIT NINJA, reinventing the game for Apple Vision Pro 30:39

2y ago30:39

30:39

Queensland based Halfbrick have been making games for almost 25 years, and chances are if you’ve picked up a phone in the last decade you’ve played one of their games. Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride, Age of Zombies or maybe you’re a bit more oldschool and played one of their Gameboy Advance games or PlayStation or Wii titles. In an industry that s…

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Austin Wintory, Tripod, Montaigne on writing the Grammy Award nominated STRAY GODS: THE ROLEPLAYING MUSICAL 41:43

2y ago41:43

41:43

The groundbreaking STRAY GODS: THE ROLEPLAYING MUSICAL is pretty unique and the very first Australian made game to be nominated for a Grammy Award, which will be awarded today. Composers Austin Wintory (JOURNEY, ASSASSIN'S CREED SYNDICATE) Scott Edgar and Simon Hall from musical comedy group Tripod, singer-songwritter Montaigne aka Jess Cerro join …

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The best game soundtracks of 2023: ZELDA: TOTK, BALDUR'S GATE 3 & more 54:15

2y ago54:15

54:15

We listen back through this incredible year of games with our friend Meena Shamaly, musician, composer and host of ABC Classic's The Game Show. It's Shamaly Selects 2023 and boy are there some incredible pieces to listen to. Here is what delighted and made the top eight this year. STRAY GODS: THE ROLEPLAYING MUSICAL - Adrift & Challenging a Queen (…

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The Experience - Clinton Festa 20:14

2y ago20:14

20:14

About This Episode This week on Stories Found, we're talking to one of our favorite playwrights, Clinton Festa, and then hearing his surreal comedy, The Experience. The play follows a couple dining at a restaurant with a twist - instead of food, they serve emotions. Frustration, rejection, nostalgia - it's all on the menu. With …

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KNUCKLE SANDWICH is an RPG inspired by best of GBA and Nintendo DS games 33:47

2y ago33:47

33:47

If you grew up playing the Gameboy Advance and the Nintendo DS, you might have missed the aesthetic those games created at the time, but you'd definitely remember the vibes. Those vibes are what Andy Brophy and Olivia Haines are trying to recapture in their weird and wonderful roleplaying game KNUCKLE SANDWICH. With some kicking tunes and fun turn …

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Burger Bard by Patrick Bates 3:36

2y ago3:36

3:36

About This Episode Welcome to Stories Found Micro Monday. This week we've got the one-minute comedy, Burger Bard by Patrick Bates. About the Playwright Pat Bates has been writing plays since he was a kid. Now, he's written for stage and screen, optioned a screenplay, and won some awards along the way. In his spare time, he writes crime/horror/scien…

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The Brink Of Chaos - Mark Gifford 27:34

2y ago27:34

27:34

About This Episode This week we're talking to Mark Gifford and hearing his hilarious story, The Brink of Chaos. About the Storyteller Mark has been a full-time professor of composition and rhetoric at The University of Texas at San Antonio for 18 years and counting. He is also a producer for Testify, a monthly storytelling show in Austin, Texas. Ma…

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A voice says SLAY THE PRINCESS. What you do next is up to you 39:22

2y ago39:22

39:22

SLAY THE PRINCESS is a horror narrative visual novel where you've got one task. You're here to slay a princess, but if you do is actually up to you. This game brings branching narratives and a style of roguelite gameplay to the visual novel genre where all your choices can lead to an ending. Developers Abby Howard and Tony Howard-Arias join Lightma…

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The Palatka Museum of Natural History - Kimberly Murray-Patel 4:02

2y ago4:02

4:02

About This Episode Welcome to Stories Found Micro Monday -- Halloween Eve edition. This week we've got a special treat, the one minute dark comedy, The Palatka Museum of Natural History by Kimberly Murray-Patel. The Palatka Museum of Natural History recently won the coveted top honor at the Whiskey Theater Factory's annual one minute play competiti…

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Spam Calls From Hell - Brian Rust 20:03

2y ago20:03

20:03

About This Episode Thanks for joining us for our special Halloween edition of Stories Found! This week we're talking to one of our very favorite playwrights, Brian Rust, and then hearing his eerie dark comedy, Spam Calls from Hell. About the Playwright Brian Rust (he/him) is a Boston-based actor and writer who makes chocolates and searches for cryp…

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THE PLUCKY SQUIRE jumps between 2D and 3D worlds and is a gorgeous homage to gaming's past 25:11

2y ago25:11

25:11

THE PLUCKY SQUIRE feels like a world of pure imagination. Jonathan Biddle and James Turner head up All Possible Futures a completely remote studio working on the gorgeous game that acts as a love letter to some of your favourite genres and games of the last 30 years. Gianni sat down with Jonathon Biddle at PAX Australia to explore how this collabor…

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A Foggy Day in a Certain Part of Scotland - Mark Harvey Levine 3:23

2y ago3:23

3:23

About This Episode Welcome to Stories Found Micro Monday -- Spooky Edition. This week we've got the eerie 1-minute play, A Foggy Day in a Certain Part of Scotland by Mark Harvey Levine. About the Playwright / Storyteller Mark Harvey Levine has had over 2000 productions of his short plays everywhere from Bangalore to Bucharest and from Lima to Londo…

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Bella and Blue - Jeff Knight 46:34

2y ago46:34

46:34

About This Episode This week we're talking to the uber talented Austin writer and storyteller, Jeff Knight, before hearing his fantastic story, Bella and Blue. About the Storyteller Jeff Knight is a storyteller, poet, songwriter, and aspiring novelist in Austin, Texas. He is currently working on a murder mystery set in the world of craft beer, and …