Best Connor Farrell Podcasts (2025)

1
Tracy Fullerton and Matthew Farber, "The Well-Read Game: On Playing Thoughtfully" (MIT Press, 2025) 33:08

2h ago33:08

33:08

How players evoke personal and subjective meanings through a new theory of player response. In The Well-Read Game: On Playing Thoughtfully (MIT Press, 2025), Tracy Fullerton and Matthew Farber explore the experiences we have when we play games: not the outcomes of play or the aesthetics of formal game structures but the ephemeral and emotional expe…

1
40. Why I Left The UK (And Where I Went) - Mark Walsh 35:18

1h ago35:18

35:18

I’m sharing some personal reflections from my new life in Slovenia. It’s just me on the mic, exploring themes of home, belonging, and what it means to truly feel settled - both in a place and in the body. As someone who has lived all over the world, I’ve had plenty of cross-cultural experiences that shape how I see things. I talk about migration, e…

1
Peter Krapp, "Computing Legacies: Digital Cultures of Simulation" (MIT Press, 2024) 1:13:44

4d ago1:13:44

1:13:44

We're pleased to welcome Dr. Peter Krapp, the author of Computing Legacies: Digital Cultures of Simulation (MIT Press, 2024), to the New Books Network. In Computing Legacies, Peter Krapp explores a media history of simulation to excavate three salient aspects of digital culture. Firstly, he profiles simulation as cultural technique, enabling symbol…

1
39. Krav Maga, Real-World Training & Why Simplicity Works – with Lewis Groves 41:07

7d ago41:07

41:07

Krav Maga instructor, Lewis Groves joins me to get into what Krav Maga really is, where it comes from, and how it’s different from traditional martial arts or rule-bound sports. We talk about training for the street rather than the ring, the value of simplicity under pressure, and why so many martial arts end up in fantasyland. We also cover ego, h…

1
38. Why Strength Still Matters: Masculinity, Honour & Identity – With Jack Donovan 47:49

14d ago47:49

47:49

I’m joined by author and men’s work coach Jack Donovan for a deep, honest chat about modern masculinity. We get into why strength matters, how weakness is being sold as virtue, and why the idea that we're all "blank slates" might be doing more harm than good. We talk martial arts, the value of tactical virtues, and what honour really means in a wor…

1
James Cartlidge, "The Rise of the Roguelite: Inside a Gaming Phenomenon" (CRC Press, 2025) 28:12

16d ago28:12

28:12

The Rise of the Roguelite: Inside a Gaming Phenomenon (CRC Press, 2025) analyzes the wave of roguelite games that have appeared over the past decade, putting them in historical context, informing readers about their development out of and relation to the roguelike genre that inspired them. The book includes discussions of the historical development…

1
Jonathan D. Cohen, "Losing Big: America's Dangerous Sports Gambling Boom" (Columbia Global Reports, 2025) 59:01

22d ago59:01

59:01

In 2018, the United States Supreme Court opened the floodgates for states to legalize betting on sports. Eager for revenue, almost forty states have done so. The result is the explosive growth of an industry dominated by companies like FanDuel and DraftKings. One out of every five American adults gambled on sports in 2023, amounting to $121 billion…

1
Connor Jackson, "Zombies, Consumption, and Satire in Capcom's Dead Rising" (Routledge, 2024) 16:06

20d ago16:06

16:06

Zombies, Consumption, and Satire in Capcom's Dead Rising (Routledge, 2024) explores the relationship between video games and satire through an in-depth examination of Capcom’s Dead Rising series, which alludes to, recontextualises, and builds upon George A. Romero’s filmic satire on American consumer culture, Dawn of the Dead. Proposing a taxonomy …

1
37. Out-training Parkinson’s: A Comeback Story - with Scott Hanley 45:59

21d ago45:59

45:59

Scott Hanley joins me to talk about how he turned the tables on his Parkinson's diagnosis. We explore how mindset, movement, and a willingness to experiment played key roles in his recovery. We also talk about CrossFit, brain health, neuroplasticity, and the social disconnection that’s worsened since COVID. It’s a conversation packed with practical…

1
Milena Droumeva, "Playthrough Poetics: Gameplay as Research Method" (Amherst College Press, 2024) 32:57

26d ago32:57

32:57

Game streamers and live commentators are producing increasingly comprehensive analyses of gameplay, yet scholarship still tends to flatten the experiential media of video games into text for close reading. By shifting focus toward the immersiveness of video games, Playthrough Poetics: Gameplay as Research Method (Amherst, 2024) makes the case for g…

1
Daryl Fairweather, "Hate the Game: Economic Cheat Codes for Life, Love, and Work" (U Chicago Press, 2025) 36:04

27d ago36:04

36:04

The secret insights of economics, translated for the rest of us. Should I buy or rent? Do I ask for a promotion? Should I tell people I’m pregnant? What salary do I deserve? Should I just quit this job? Common anxieties about life are often grounded in economics. In an increasingly win-lose society, these economic decisions—where to work, where to …

1
36. Why Regulating Your Nervous System Is So Important - with Dr. Helen 55:48

28d ago55:48

55:48

In this episode, I’m doing one of my not-so-solo solo casts - with Dr. Helen Machen-Pearce in the room. We talk the power of nervous system regulation and how co-regulation plays a key role in well-being. This candid conversation dives into mental health, somatic practices, and how we connect as humans. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or jus…

1
35. The Secret Weapon of Elite Soldiers: Breath, Discipline & Mindset - With Wouter Huizer 40:20

1M ago40:20

40:20

Ex-Dutch special forces operator turned breathwork coach Wouter Huizer joins me to discuss masculinity, elite performance, and mastering the nervous system. We get into counter-terrorism, ethics, high-performing teams, anger, discipline, military identity, the “off switch,” up-regulation, insecurity, and refusing the shot. A punchy, masculine, and …

1
34. Masculinity, Meaning, and the Modern Crisis - With The Warrior Philosopher 51:25

1M ago51:25

51:25

The Warrior Philosopher joins me for a dive deep into the intersection of philosophy, masculinity, and the struggle for meaning in the modern world. Drawing on Nietzsche, Mishima, and the ideals of the warrior poet, we explore how strength, aesthetics, and discipline shape a life of purpose. We also discuss the alienation of modern men, the consequ…

1
33. The Gender Divide, Peak Woke, and the Return to Tradition - With Mikaal Bates 48:56

2M ago48:56

48:56

Mikaal Bates joins me for a thought-provoking discussion on the growing divide between men and women, the shifting landscape of masculinity, and why more people are turning back to traditional values. We explore the impact of feminism, the rise of the "trad wife" movement, and the unintended consequences of modern social trends. We also discuss how…

1
Mia Consalvo et al., "Streaming by the Rest of Us: Microstreaming Videogames on Twitch" (MIT Press, 2025) 43:20

2M ago43:20

43:20

The vast majority of people who stream themselves playing videogames online do so with few or no viewers. In Streaming by the Rest of Us: Microstreaming Videogames on Twitch (MIT Press, 2025) Dr. Mia Consalvo, Dr. Marc Lajeunesse, and Dr. Andrei Zanescu investigate who they are, why they do so, and why this form of leisure activity is important to …

1
32. How to Feel More Alive: Myth, Meaning & Connection - with Josh Schrei 54:50

2M ago54:50

54:50

Host of The Emerald and animism teacher Josh Schrei joins me to explore topics that span existential questions to practical rituals. We look at what it means to be alive in a world teeming with distractions, the role of myth in modern life, and the tension between liberalism and animism. Josh shares his take on mental health, the importance of auth…

1
Sarah Stang, et al., "Monstrosity in Games and Play" (Amsterdam UP, 2024) 52:47

2M ago52:47

52:47

Sarah Stang, editor, joins Jana Byars to talk about Monstrosity in Games and Play (Amsterdam UP, 2024). Monsters fascinate us. From ancient folklore to contemporary digital games, they are at the core of the stories we tell. They reflect our fears, deepest desires, and the monstrosity hidden within ourselves. Monsters hold a mirror to our contempor…

1
31. Navigating Success, Relationships & Self-Worth - with Adam Roa 42:49

2M ago42:49

42:49

Spoken word artist and coach Adam Roa joins me for a wide-ranging chat about life, love, and the messiness of it all. We get into the highs and lows of going viral, why self-love can sometimes look a lot like narcissism, and what’s total BS in the personal growth world. Adam shares war stories from the world of artistic entrepreneurship - think big…

1
Blair Farrell, "The Avengers in Video Games" (McFarland, 2021) 40:13

2M ago40:13

40:13

For decades, Marvel Comics' superhero group the Avengers have captured the imagination of millions, whether in comics, multi-billion dollar grossing films or video games. Similar to the chronology of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Avengers video games first started with titles driven by single characters, like Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor and Capta…

1
Kyle Orland, "Minesweeper" (Boss Fight Books, 2023) 20:09

2M ago20:09

20:09

If you had some free time and a Windows PC in the 1990s, your mouse probably crawled its way to Minesweeper, an exciting watch-where-you-click puzzle game with a ticking clock and a ton of “just one more game” replayability. Originally sold as part of a “big box” bundle of simple games, Minesweeper became a cornerstone of the Windows experience whe…

1
Robert Houghton, "The Middle Ages in Computer Games: Ludic Approaches to the Medieval and Medievalism" (Boydell & Brewer, 2024) 36:05

2M ago36:05

36:05

Games with a medieval setting are commercially lucrative and reach a truly massive audience. Moreover, they can engage their players in a manner that is not only different, but in certain aspects, more profound than traditional literary or cinematic forms of medievalism. However, although it is important to understand the versions of the Middle Age…

1
Sam Srauy, "Race, Culture and the Video Game Industry: A Vicious Circuit" (Routledge, 2024) 55:17

2M ago55:17

55:17

My guest today Sam Srauy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations at Oakland University, Her research examines race, video games, and the political economy of the video game industry. Srauy’s work appears in various academic journals including Social Media + Society, First Mondays, Games and Cul…

1
30. Escaping Social Media Hell - With Jordan Allen of Uptrust 48:43

2M ago48:43

48:43

Uptrust and Relatefulness founder Jordan Myska Allen joins me to tackle one of the biggest challenges of our time - social media. We dig into the dark side of the platforms we all love to hate: polarization, narcissism, addiction, and how algorithms keep us hooked and divided. But Jordan has a plan. He introduces Uptrust, a radical new approach to …

1
Jeff Yoshimi, "Gaming Cancer: How Building and Playing Video Games Can Accelerate Scientific Discovery" (MIT Press, 2025) 22:24

2M ago22:24

22:24

Can experimenting with game design increase our chances of finding a cure for cancer? Cancer is crafty, forcing us to be just as clever in our efforts to outfox it—and we’ve made excellent progress, but is it time for a new play in the playbook? In Gaming Cancer: How Building and Playing Video Games Can Accelerate Scientific Discovery (MIT Press, 2…

1
29. Stoicism vs Broicism: A Deep Dive Into Resilience - With Nancy Sherman 1:15:20

3M ago1:15:20

1:15:20

Philosopher Nancy Sherman joins me to unpack Stoicism - what people often misunderstand about it, and what’s really worth taking away. We dive into Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and how ancient wisdom still speaks to modern practices like CBT. Nancy shares insights on moral injury, PTSD, and the dynamics of resilience in relationships, alongside Aristot…

1
Shelly Jones and Matthew Wilhelm Kapell, "Beyond the Deck: Critical Essays on Magic, The Gathering and Its Influence" (McFarland, 2023) 29:34

3M ago29:34

29:34

Since its debut in 1993, Magic: The Gathering has grown to be an influential collectible card game, allowing its community of loyal fans to duel each other while enjoying its lore and compelling narratives. Beyond the Deck (McFarland, 2023) focuses on Magic from a variety of disciplinary approaches. Authors explore the innovative game design of Mag…

1
René Reinhold Schallegger, "A New Virtual Ethics: Interconnectedness and Interrelationality in Videogames" (McFarland, 2024) 40:14

3M ago40:14

40:14

We are witnessing the collapse of the postwar consensus, the implosion of the caring society. In times of social, economic, and political insecurity, egotism spreads. Many popular videogames follow a logic of consumerist self-gratification and self-empowerment. Deeply political, videogames contribute to the transformation of players, causing a need…

1
28. The Depths of Healing Core Wounds - With Joshua Wenner 48:57

3M ago48:57

48:57

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Joshua Wenner, a relationship coach specializing in nervous system well-being, somatic healing, and grief work. Joshua opens up about his personal journey through love, loss, and trauma, sharing profound insights on how to process grief, build resilience, and navigate emotional challenges. We dive deep into…

1
Réjane Dreifuss et al., "Live Performance and Video Games: Inspirations, Appropriations and Mutual Transfers" (Transcript Publishing, 2024) 32:33

3M ago32:33

32:33

Narrative strategies, immersion, interaction, participation, identification, multimodality, characters and the connection between physical and fictional or virtual worlds: the fields of inquiry into the complex relationship between live performance and video games are numerous and diverse. For the first time, Live Performance and Video Games: Inspi…

1
27. Helping Young Men Find Their Voice - With Ashanti Branch 49:28

3M ago49:28

49:28

Ashanti Branch has made it his life’s work to challenge the very idea of men being told to "man up". In this episode, I sit down with Ashanti, the founder and director of the Ever Forward Club, to dive into what it really means to be a man—and why society’s version is doing more harm than good. Ashanti opens up about growing up without a father, th…

1
Marijam Did, "Everything to Play For: An Insider's Guide to How Videogames are Changing Our World" (Verso, 2024) 55:43

3M ago55:43

55:43

Everything to Play For: How Videogames Are Changing the World (Verso, 2024) by Marijiam Did asks if videogames can achieve egalitarian goals instead of fuelling hyper-materialist, reactionary agendas. Combining cultural theory and materialist critiques with accessible language and personal anecdotes, industry insider Marijam Did engages both novice…

1
26. The Myth of Vulnerability: Masculinity, Mental Health, and Modern Issues - with Connor Beaton 55:58

3M ago55:58

55:58

Host of the Man Talks podcast and author of Men’s Work Connor Beaton joins me to talk about the myth of vulnerability, suicide, being useful, who defines masculinity, postmodernism, psychological fracturing, women and safety, Chris Bumstead, the psychological industrial complex, APA guidelines, Andrew Tate, weight lifting and mental health, mentori…

1
25. Mastering Performance: Words That Work - with Nick Winkelman 55:40

4M ago55:40

55:40

Explore the intersection of masculinity, sports science, and philosophy with Nick Winkelman, Head of Athletic Performance for Irish Rugby. In this episode, we dive into what sports can teach us about personal growth and leadership, overcoming mental barriers, understanding the mind-body connection, and the power of effective communication. Learn wh…

1
Marco Arnaudo, "The Tabletop Revolution: Gaming Reimagined in the 21st Century" (McFarland, 2023) 27:19

4M ago27:19

27:19

The Tabletop Revolution: Gaming Reimagined in the 21st Century (McFarland, 2023) is an overview of the ongoing revolution in tabletop gaming design and culture, which exploded to unprecedented levels of vitality in the 21st century, leading to new ways of creating, marketing, and experiencing a game. Designers have become superstars, publishers hav…

1
24. Systema - with Valerie & Vladimir Vasiliev 45:29

4M ago45:29

45:29

Russian martial arts teacher Vladimir joins me to discuss Systema, health, aikido, fear, fight and flight, breathing, community, family and context, 911, fighting evil, post-COVID fighting, protesting and more. A lovely vibrant one. Find out more about Vladimir here: https://www.russianmartialart.com/index.php --------------------------------------…

1
Jesper Juul, "Too Much Fun: The Five Lives of the Commodore 64 Computer" (MIT Press, 2024) 36:40

4M ago36:40

36:40

The surprising history of the Commodore 64, the best-selling home computer of the 1980s—the machine that taught the world that computing should be fun. The Commodore 64 (C64) is officially the best-selling desktop computer model of all time, according to The Guinness Book of World Records. It was also, from 1985 to 1993, the platform for which most…

1
James Malazita, "Enacting Platforms: Feminist Technoscience and the Unreal Engine" (MIT Press, 2024) 40:01

4M ago40:01

40:01

An analysis of the game engine Unreal through feminist, race, and queer theories of technology and media, as well as a critique of the platform studies framework itself. In this first scholarly book on the Unreal game engine, James Malazita explores one of the major contemporary game development platforms through feminist, race, and queer theories …

1
23. Too Far Left? Traditionalism, New Age Myths, and Embodiment in a Shifting World - with Mark Sedgwick 49:05

4M ago49:05

49:05

Professor Mark Sedgwick joins me for a profound exploration of Traditionalism and its many facets. We dive into the primordial and perennial traditions, unpack why humanity isn't headed for a "Star Trek" future, and discuss key concepts like Kali Yuga, Rene Guenon's influence, and the ongoing meaning crisis. Our conversation touches on Sufism, the …

1
Andrew S. Latham, "Hey! Listen!: Hypertext Rhetoric and The Legend of Zelda" (McFarland, 2024) 39:25

4M ago39:25

39:25

How does analyzing video games as hypertexts expand the landscape of research for video game rhetoricians and games studies scholars? This is the first book to focus on how hypertext rhetoric impacts the five canons of rhetoric, and to apply that hypertext rhetoric to the study of video games. It also explores how ludonarrative agency is seized by …

1
22. Black Mirror Embodied - with Farsam Shadab 55:59

4M ago55:59

55:59

Integral tech teacher Farsam joins me to discuss the interplay between technology and consciousness. We chat East-West dynamics, Ken Wilber, social media, augmented reality, Black Mirror, virtual reality, Minority Report, technology that helps, Facebook evils, TTCONF.org, the enlightenment cap, ethical design, Dylan Newcomb, and more. Where embodim…

1
John Eglin, "The Gambling Century: Commercial Gaming in Britain from Restoration to Regency" (Oxford UP, 2023) 56:42

4M ago56:42

56:42

John Eglin talks with Jana Byars about The Gambling Century: Commercial Gaming in Britain from Restoration to Regency (Oxford UP, 2023). Gambling captures as nothing else the drama of the "long eighteenth century" between the age of religious wars and the age of revolutions. The society that was confronted with games of chance pursued as commercial…

1
21. Why Boys Need Dads - with Dr Warren Farrell 1:00:53

4M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

Men’s Movement legend Warren joins me to discuss his early work in the women’s movement, feminism, “the patriarchy”, three gender world-views, why boys need dads, gender studies and activism, rejection, the gender pay gap, Men’s beauty contests, power and being powerless, HR, and more. Maybe not an easy listen for some, but very important. Find out…

1
Julien Mailland, "The Game That Never Ends: How Lawyers Shape the Videogame Industry" (MIT Press, 2024) 40:39

5M ago40:39

40:39

A guide to the fascinating legal history of the videogame industry, written for nonlawyers. Why did a judge recall FIFA 15, a nonviolent soccer game, from French shelves in 2014? Why was Vodka Drunkenski, a character in Nintendo-Japan’s Punch-Out!, renamed Soda Popinski in the US and then in Western Europe, where the pun made no sense? Why was a Du…

1
20. What Men Want - with Ryan Hartley 44:27

5M ago44:27

44:27

Founder of "Always Better than Yesterday" & a podcast host Ryan joins me to talk Men vs Women, John Gray, language games, cultures of life and death, cascading care, what women are seeking, Peter Pan, masculine archetypes, leadership, faith, embodied spirituality, what we all worship, the split in psychology, and more. This one may be provocative, …

1
Matthew S. Smith, "EverQuest" (Boss Fight Books, 2024) 38:29

5M ago38:29

38:29

“You’re in our world now.” This bold tagline led Sony’s 1999 ad blitz for EverQuest (Boss Fight Books, 2024), the year’s most anticipated massively multiplayer game. Though just five words long, it challenged players to live in a virtual world beyond anything they’d experienced before—and delivered. The game that proved the MMORPG’s potential, Ever…

1
Tom Boellstorff and Braxton Soderman, "Intellivision: How a Videogame System Battled Atari and Almost Bankrupted Barbie®" (MIT Press, 2024) 35:27

5M ago35:27

35:27

The engaging story of Intellivision, an overlooked videogame system from the late 1970s and early 1980s whose fate was shaped by Mattel, Atari, and countless others who invented the gaming industry. Astrosmash, Snafu, Star Strike, Utopia—do these names sound familiar to you? No? Maybe? They were all videogames created for the Intellivision videogam…

1
19. Samurai Fun - with Urs Jose Zuber 1:01:41

5M ago1:01:41

1:01:41

Swiss children’s aikido teacher Urs joins me to talk martial arts, learning, how to work with kids in martial arts, body-mind training, embodying peace, George Leonard’s Samurai Game, Urs’s aikido game, spiritual fondue and how to integrate practices as a generalist. An energetic and wide ranging one. Find out more about Urs here: www.zuvuya-agenda…

1
18. Stone Age Practice- with Joseph Bartz 56:22

5M ago56:22

56:22

Holistic mover Joseph joins me to chat parkour, the practice, why we train, discipline, play and goal orientation, his school outside Berlin, the fundamentals of being human, the importance of craft, agency and creation, what’s lost in modern life, Hipster hunting, “time well spent”, gardening, how to navigate the diversity of practice in the moder…

1
17. Breath is God - with Petri Berndtson 55:38

5M ago55:38

55:38

Breath philosopher Petri rejoins me to talk salt, elemental philosophy, Bachelard, is philosophy back, the trust issues, why philosophy is fashionable, shouting over each other, trust, breath and purpose, Descartes, breath as life, respiratory religion, phenomenology, breath and powerlifting, intimacy, sleep, Socratic enquiry and coaching. A deep a…

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Connor Farrell Podcasts

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