Best Nick Calandra Podcasts (2025)

1
The Joys of In-Person Gaming | Windbreaker Podcast 1:44:00

Play Pause

5h ago1:44:00

1:44:00

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, JM8, Marty, and Jesse are together in Milwaukee, and chatting about the joys of gaming with pals in-person, from couch co-op, to TTRPGs, and more. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Our Favorite Video Game Performances Ever | Firelink Podcast 1:29:37

4d ago1:29:37

1:29:37

This week on Firelink, KC, Nick, and Marty chat about what they've been playing, their gaming habits while traveling, and their all-time favorite video game performances. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Is Pokemon Stagnating? | Dev Heads 2:10:04

10d ago2:10:04

2:10:04

This week on Dev Heads, JM8, Tina, and Mikee dig deep into the current state of the Pokemon franchise. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

1
What a Weird Week for the Pokémon Company | Firelink Podcast 1:56:24

10d ago1:56:24

1:56:24

This week on Firelink, KC, Nick, and Marty chat about this week's big news, including the passing of Tomonobu Itagaki, a major departure at Rare, more drama from the MindsEye studio, and the very strange week that The Pokemon Company has been having. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon …

1
5 Years Later, Does the PS5 Have an Identity? | Windbreaker Podcast 1:25:34

14d ago1:25:34

1:25:34

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about the current state of the PS5 -- its library, its future, and whether its lacking an identity that previous PlayStations had. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindG…

1
We've Been Hit with Another Sudden Deluge of Good Games | Firelink Podcast 1:45:46

17d ago1:45:46

1:45:46

This week on Firelink, KC, Nick, and Marty chat about some news bits from the week, as well as what they've been playing, including Ghost of Yotei, Yooka-Replaylee, Absolum, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month …

1
The Video Game Stories That Stick With Us | Windbreaker Podcast 1:29:10

21d ago1:29:10

1:29:10

1
Devs React to the $55 Billion EA Buyout | Dev Heads 2:12:08

25d ago2:12:08

2:12:08

This week on Dev Heads, JM8, Tina, and Mikee dig deep into the news of EA's $55 billion buyout. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

1
Breaking Down This Week's Big AAA Drama | Firelink Podcast 2:09:19

24d ago2:09:19

2:09:19

This week on Firelink, KC, Nick, and Marty chat about the big drama in the AAA space from EA, Xbox, and Ubisoft. They'll also dig into what they've been playing, including Hades 2, Silent Hill f, and Ghost of Yotei. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreo…

1
Does Japan Make the Best Horror? | Windbreaker Podcast 1:25:54

28d ago1:25:54

1:25:54

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about the current state of horror, and where Japan fits in there. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

1
Marvel's Wolverine Looks Exactly As Bloody As It Should | Firelink Podcast 1:38:28

1M ago1:38:28

1:38:28

This week on Firelink, KC and Marty chat about the big reveals from Tokyo Game Show, including Marvel's Wolverine, Saros, and the Kojima credit card. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Our Favorite Power-Ups | Windbreaker Podcast 1:20:07

1M ago1:20:07

1:20:07

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about their all-time favorite power-ups in video games. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

1
Can Early Access Still Be Trusted? | Dev Heads 2:14:44

1M ago2:14:44

2:14:44

This week on Dev Heads, JM8, Tina, and Mikee chat about the current state of Early Access games. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

1
Rad 2025 Games That Slipped Under the Radar | Firelink Podcast 1:45:47

1M ago1:45:47

1:45:47

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Nick chat about their favorite games from this year that didn't get the love they deserved, plus what they've been playing recently (spoilers, it's more Silksong. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWin…

1
Alright, Fine, Let's Chat About Silksong's Difficulty | Windbreaker Podcast 1:19:28

1M ago1:19:28

1:19:28

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 dig into Silksong's difficulty, and use it as a springboard to chat about the line between the good and bad kinds of hard. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Nintendo Direct Hopes/Wishes + Silksong Continues to Impress | Firelink Podcast 1:34:44

2M ago1:34:44

1:34:44

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Nick chat about tomorrow's big hour-long Nintendo Direct, their continued adventures in Silksong, and everything else they've been playing. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Can Games Ever Live Up to Their Hype? | Windbreaker Podcast 1:23:40

2M ago1:23:40

1:23:40

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about the hype leading up to a game like Silksong, and whether any piece of art can ever live up to those lofty expectations we create. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/Second…

1
What the Hell Do You Want From a Sequel? | Dev Heads 2:12:50

2M ago2:12:50

2:12:50

This week on Dev Heads, JM8, Tina, and Mikee chat about what makes a good sequel.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

1
Cronos: The New Dawn, Hell Is Us, Metal Eden, Silksong... Oh My! | Firelink Podcast 1:41:31

2M ago1:41:31

1:41:31

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Nick talk about Silksong, the James Bond gameplay reveal, and the many other games that have come out over the last week! Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
The Best, Worst, and Most Annoying "True" Endings | Windbreaker Podcast 1:40:01

2M ago1:40:01

1:40:01

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about "True" endings that make you go above and beyond to unlock, including which ones we like and which ones we hate. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Silksong Is Causing Other Games to Flee Its Orbit | Firelink Podcast 1:33:02

2M ago1:33:02

1:33:02

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and JM8 chat about the impact of Silksong's release date on other indies, as well as all sorts of games they've been playing. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Making a Video Game Developer Alignment Chart | Windbreaker Podcast 1:32:32

2M ago1:32:32

1:32:32

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 attempt to make a D&D-esque alignment chart for video game developers, ranging from Lawful Good to Chaotic Evil. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Hollow Knight: Silksong Is Real, and It's Out Very, Very Soon | Firelink Podcast 1:38:32

2M ago1:38:32

1:38:32

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Nick chat about Silksong's imminent release, the big trailers out of Gamescom, and all the stuff they've been playing. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
The Good, the Bad, and the Weird Kinds of "Yellow Paint" | Windbreaker Podcast 1:03:13

2M ago1:03:13

1:03:13

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about all different kinds of ways that games help guide the player towards their destination. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Is a "Good Enough" Game Good Enough Anymore? | Firelink Podcast 1:52:01

2M ago1:52:01

1:52:01

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Nick chat about Mafia: The Old Country, and whether a game that's "good enough" is good enough for folks in 2025. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Letting Franchises Die With Dignity | Windbreaker Podcast 1:40:02

3M ago1:40:02

1:40:02

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat what the best course of action is for a franchise that has seemingly lost its way. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
There Are SO MANY Games, and We Have Been Playing Them | Firelink Podcast 1:41:12

3M ago1:41:12

1:41:12

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Nick chat update their Fantasy Critic League, and chat about a ton of stuff they've been playing, including Battlefield 6, Final Fantasy X, and a bunch of new indies. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/Secon…

1
The Point in a Game That Kills the Replay | Windbreaker Podcast 1:28:26

3M ago1:28:26

1:28:26

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about the moments in games that grind a replay to a halt. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

1
Can Battlefield 6 Still Deliver the Juice? | Firelink Podcast 1:04:50

3M ago1:04:50

1:04:50

This week on Firelink, Marty and Nick chat about today's big Battlefield 6 reveal, the underwhelming Nintendo Partner Showcase, and what they've been playing. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Annoying Design Choices in Games | Windbreaker Podcast 1:33:10

3M ago1:33:10

1:33:10

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about the design decisions in games that really irk them. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

1
Chatting DK Bananza + Predicting 2025's GOTY Nominees | Firelink Podcast 1:15:31

3M ago1:15:31

1:15:31

Hey hey! Marty and Jack are going to gab about Donkey Kong Bananza, predictions for the the six games that will be nominated for GOTY at the Game Awards, and some Summer 2025 anime reccos. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
The State of Nintendo in 2025 | Windbreaker Podcast 1:38:17

3M ago1:38:17

1:38:17

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, JM8 is off on assignment, so Yahtzee, Marty, and Jack are chatting about the current state of Nintendo in the wake of the Switch 2. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠…

1
Donkey Kong Bananza First Impressions | Firelink Podcast 1:10:45

3M ago1:10:45

1:10:45

This week on Firelink, Marty and Nick chat about first impressions of Donkey Kong Bananza, the Legend of Zelda movie casting news, and updates on the Krafton/Subnautica 2 drama. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Let's Have a Kojima Conversation | Windbreaker Podcast 1:11:45

4M ago1:11:45

1:11:45

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, JM8 is on vacation, so Yahtzee, and Nick are chatting about Hideo Kojima, his impressive library of games, and how he stands out amidst other video game developers. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/…

1
What Makes an Open World Actually Fun? | Windbreaker Podcast 1:20:43

4M ago1:20:43

1:20:43

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Marty is on vacation, so Yahtzee, JM8 and Nick are discussing open world games and what makes them actually fun to be in. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠…

1
What Does the Future of Xbox Look Like? | Firelink Podcast 1:30:11

4M ago1:30:11

1:30:11

This week on Firelink, KC and Nick chat about the massive layoffs at Xbox, including game cancellations and studio closures. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

1
Learning to Love the Backlog | Windbreaker Podcast 1:58:43

4M ago1:58:43

1:58:43

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee is on vacation, so JM8 and Marty are joined by Jack to chat about their own personal gaming backlogs, especially in the face of the current Steam Summer Sale.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com…

1
Western vs Eastern Game Development (ft. Laura Shiraishi) | Dev Heads 1:42:16

4M ago1:42:16

1:42:16

This week on Dev Heads, JM8, Tina, and Mikee are joined by developer Laura Shiraishi to chat about the differences in development between studios across the world.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠…

1
A Deluge of Good New Games Is Upon Us | Firelink Podcast 1:35:16

4M ago1:35:16

1:35:16

This week on Firelink, KC, Marty, and Nick chat about a flood of good new games, including Death Stranding 2, Rematch, Ruffy and the Riverside, and Persona 5: The Phantom X. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Time Is the Best (and Worst) Game Mechanic | Windbreaker Podcast 1:31:38

4M ago1:31:38

1:31:38

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about the use of time as a central mechanic in video games. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

1
You Should Be Playing The Alters Instead of Watching This Podcast | Firelink Podcast 1:14:46

4M ago1:14:46

1:14:46

This week on Firelink, Marty and Nick chat about the WB restructuring their games division around four core franchises, the Gex Trilogy being literally unplayable on Switch 2, and why you should immediately play The Alters.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at…

1
Are Games Better Now Than They Were in 2015? | Windbreaker Podcast 1:43:36

4M ago1:43:36

1:43:36

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about the highs, lows, and oddities of video games in 2015. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

1
What Does "Make FPS Great Again" Even Mean? | Dev Heads 2:03:56

5M ago2:03:56

2:03:56

This week on Dev Heads, JM8, Tina, and Mikee chat about the current state of the FPS genre. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

1
Switch 2 Soars, MindsEye Sinks, and Silent Hill 1 Is Being Remade | Firelink Podcast 1:52:37

5M ago1:52:37

1:52:37

This week on Firelink, KC, Marty, and Nick chat about the Switch 2's historic sales, the catastrophic launch of MindsEye, and the original Silent Hill's upcoming remake. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠…

1
Catching Yahtzee Up on Summer Game Fest 2025 | Windbreaker Podcast 1:29:14

5M ago1:29:14

1:29:14

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about the big reveals from Summer Game Fest 2025. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

1
Nintendo Switch 2: Day One Impressions | Firelink Podcast 1:37:53

5M ago1:37:53

1:37:53

This week on Firelink, KC, Marty, and Nick chat about the Switch 2 launch, the steps they took to secure hardware, and early impressions of the launch lineup. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠…

1
What Even Is a "Cozy" Game? | Windbreaker Podcast 1:44:47

5M ago1:44:47

1:44:47

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty dig into the biggest sub-genre of the past few years, and try to figure out what separate as a good cozy game from a bland imitator.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWin…

1
Summer Game Fest 2025 Hopes, Dreams, and Fears | Firelink Podcast 1:38:36

5M ago1:38:36

1:38:36

This week on Firelink, KC, Marty, and Nick chat about what they hope to see at next week's Summer Game Fest shenanigans. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

1
Game Advertising That Actually Worked on You | Windbreaker Podcast 1:34:36

5M ago1:34:36

1:34:36

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty celebrate the start of "E3" season by chatting about the advertising -- trailers, print ads, features, interviews, demos, and more -- that actually worked on them in the past. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as littl…

1
"If You're a Real Fan..." | Firelink Podcast 1:46:45

5M ago1:46:45

1:46:45

This week on Firelink, KC, Marty, and Nick chat about Randy Pitchford's ridiculous comments regarding the price of Borderlands 4, Lies of P getting easier, and surprising Street Fighter movie casting. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Seco…