Best Daniel Kwan Podcasts (2025)

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Memes: The New Face of Propaganda 1:05:24

Play Pause

4h ago1:05:24

1:05:24

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan (BJJ Mental Models) and Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ) welcome special guest Dr. Derek Jones. Derek is a BJJ black belt, innovation educator, and retired philosophy professor whose work bridges martial arts, culture, and political thought. Together, the team explores how memes evolved from internet jo…

1
This was an American tragedy. 9:34

3h ago9:34

9:34

By Fighting Matters

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Pacific Rim Uprising (2018), Ep. 9: The Hermann Condition | Roleplay Retcon 56:52

2h ago56:52

56:52

With only 40 hours remaining before every Shao drone syncronizes, the pilots scramble to present their findings from the Siberian facility back to Professor Hermann Gottlieb. Bon takes a free sample. Amara mech-ccessorizes. Alex gets beer for his forces and whiskey for Hermann. Content Warnings: Violence, war, weapons, guns, mild body horror Guest …

1
Daniel & Drew Take a Break | No Dice, No Problem #40 49:46

31m ago49:46

49:46

The crew reflect on Drew's first month of graduate school, Daniel's first time doing voice over work, and of course...fan questions! All on this episode of No Dice, No Problem! Scorched Basin Kickstarter campaign (Daniel gets paid for his voice over work based on the number of backers who uses this link): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/homiea…

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What Charlie Kirk's killing says about us 22:33

7d ago22:33

22:33

In this special reaction episode of Fighting Matters, Jesse Walker and Mike Mahaffey respond to the shocking assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk at a Utah event. While both hosts strongly condemn Kirk’s rhetoric as harmful and divisive, they emphasize that political violence is never the answer and only undermines progressive caus…

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How RFK Jr. is Actually Making America SICK Again, w/ Conspirituality Podcast’s Derek Beres 1:13:33

6d ago1:13:33

1:13:33

In this episode of Fighting Matters, hosts Stephan Kesting and Steve Kwan engage with Derek Beres, a health and science journalist and co-host of the Conspirituality podcast. They explore the role of RFK Jr and the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement's role in promoting conspiracy thinking, inaccurate health narratives, and spreading of misi…

1
Fighting vs. Violence: What’s the Difference? (w/ Jay O’Shea) 57:57

5d ago57:57

57:57

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Jeff Shaw (Bellingham BJJ) and Mike Mahaffey (Old Bastard BJJ) welcome special guest Jay O’Shea. Jay is a martial artist, scholar, and the author of Risk, Failure, Play: What Dance Reveals about Martial Arts Training. The team tackles one of the deepest questions in combat sports: what separates fighting from vi…

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Pacific Rim Uprising (2018), Ep. 8: Siberian Husk | Roleplay Retcon 49:14

6d ago49:14

49:14

At least one pilot survives the fight against Obsidian Fury, probably, which means they probably get to further explore the horrifying Kaiju farm. Amara probably notices a pattern. Bon probably doesn't trust the science. Alex probably grapples with his feelings. Content Warnings: Violence, war, weapons, guns Guest GMed by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Henn, a.k.a. @iwri…

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"Jane" Speaks: Allegations Against Adam Zugec & ZUMA Martial Arts 1:09:08

25d ago1:09:08

1:09:08

In this episode of Fighting Matters, we're joined by "Jane Doe," who expands on her recent allegations surrounding Adam Zugec and ZUMA Martial Arts in Victoria, BC. "Jane" recaps her story of training at ZUMA, her experiences with misconduct and boundary violations, why she decided to go public, and how that experience has impacted her. We discuss …

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Daniel & Drew Go Back to School | No Dice, No Problem #39 1:00:28

15d ago1:00:28

1:00:28

Summer's (nearly) over! Drew discussed going back to grad school while Daniel shared his experiences playing at a Pokémon World Championship store tournament as a new player. Plus, they answered questions from awesome Patreon supporters of the Asians Represent podcast! - Support the launch of Daniel's wuxia TTRPG Wandering Blades here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:…

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⚖️ The Left’s Purity Trap: Why We Keep Losing 1:10:57

18d ago1:10:57

1:10:57

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan of BJJ Mental Models, Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ, and Mike Mahaffey of Old Bastard BJJ welcome special guest Eric Muntz to tackle one of the most self-destructive tendencies of the political left: the purity trap. We’ve talked plenty about the dangers of the far right, but tonight we turn the mir…

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Pacific Rim Uprising (2018), Ep. 7: If You Don't Have Real Kaiju, Artificial is Fine | Roleplay Retcon 52:45

1M ago52:45

52:45

There's no time to process the horrifying discovery in the Siberian industrial complex, because Obsidian Fury is back to finish the job. Alex brings a knife to a gunfight. Amara brings guns to a gunfight. Bon brings weird vibes to a gunfight. Content Warnings: Violence, war, weapons, guns Guest GMed by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Henn, a.k.a. @iwriterobots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Play…

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How "active clubs" use MMA to spread white supremacist hate 1:26:19

28d ago1:26:19

1:26:19

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan of BJJ Mental Models is joined by Stephan Kesting, Mike Mahaffey, and former FBI special agent Mike German to uncover the truth about “Active Clubs” — far-right extremist fight clubs infiltrating martial arts. Mike German spent 16 years as an FBI undercover agent, including operations against neo-Nazi…

1
How Donald Trump Turned Politics Into WWE 1:07:19

2M ago1:07:19

1:07:19

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan of BJJ Mental Models and Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ are joined by wrestling historian David Wolf to unpack how Donald Trump turned American politics into a pro wrestling storyline. From Trump’s long history with Vince McMahon and WWE, to the political weaponization of kayfabe, we dig into how the…

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Pacific Rim Uprising (2018), Ep. 6: Industrial Complex? It's Actually Quite Simple | Roleplay Retcon 1:16:29

2M ago1:16:29

1:16:29

The vibes at the Shatterdome are rancid, to say the least. The pilots try to pick up themselves up after their failed mission and receive a new one: Investigate the source of the mysterious Jaeger's signal in Siberia. Amara finds piece. Bon mates for life. Alex gets hooked. Content Warnings: Violence, Death, War, Trauma Guest GMed by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Henn, a.…

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Pacific Rim Uprising (2018), Ep. 5: J.D. Salinger's Catch Her in the Sky | Roleplay Retcon 39:43

2M ago39:43

39:43

The mysterious rogue mech won't respond to communications and seems hellbent on eliminating Mako Mori. Amara, Bon, and Alex fight desperately to buy time for Mako to escape... Content Warnings: Violence, Death, War, City Destruction Guest GMed by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Henn, a.k.a. @iwriterobots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Soundtrack by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BE/HOLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We're pla…

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Daniel's Trip to the Chinese Canadian Museum | No Dice, No Problem #38 1:04:31

2M ago1:04:31

1:04:31

Fresh from a trip to Vancouver, Daniel shared his experiences visiting the Chinese Canadian Museum, cancelling a group jubensha experience, the Burnaby Crystal Mall food court, and more! - Support the launch of Daniel's wuxia TTRPG Wandering Blades here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tonyatplusoneexp/wandering-blades⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ //SPONSOR Asia…

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Martial Arts as Tools of Russian Propaganda 1:01:36

2M ago1:01:36

1:01:36

The Fighting Matters crew gathers to discuss how Russian martial arts, such as Systema and Sambo, have been linked to far-right ideology and are being used by Russia as a tool for propaganda, recruitment, and spreading disinformation in foreign countries, including the US. We also discuss the evolving Trump-Epstein situation, right-wing ideologies …

1
We CANNOT allow this to be normalized. 1:07:48

2M ago1:07:48

1:07:48

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan of BJJ Mental Models and Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ confront one of the most urgent challenges in martial arts today: the normalization of extremist rhetoric, abuse, and unethical behavior within the community. From Derek Moneyberg’s questionable black belt promotion by Jake Shields, to the broad…

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Daniel & Drew's War on TCG Scalpers | No Dice, No Problem #37 1:12:19

2M ago1:12:19

1:12:19

Daniel and Drew continue their discussion about KPop Demon Hunters, the Gundam Card Game, and the state of TCG prices in local game stores. - Support the launch of Daniel's wuxia TTRPG Wandering Blades here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tonyatplusoneexp/wandering-blades⁠⁠⁠⁠ //SPONSOR Asians Represent! is proudly sponsored by Hero Forge!…

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Ashes Without Number Breakdown (feat. Wizard) 3:33:27

2M ago3:33:27

3:33:27

Jack & I are back to talk about Ashes Without Number for over 3 hours! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WasabiBurger Follow On Twitch! https://www.twitch.tv/wasabiburger Actual Play Podcast! https://wasabiburger.podbean.com/ Join the Discord! https://discord.gg/ksyzdkEuK5 Chapters: 00:00 Intro+Rambling 29:20 Character Creation 1:25:44 Equipment+Cra…

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"It's Not Fascism, Except in Every Single Way" 1:00:56

2M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

Stephan Kesting and Jeff Shaw are joined by Tyson LaRone (the "Warrior Philosopher" from TikTok) to look at the rise of fascism in modern times. Tyson shares his insights on the characteristics of fascist regimes, drawing parallels between historical figures like Mussolini and contemporary political leaders. We also explore the role of social media…

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Derek Moneyberg, Jiu-Jitsu black belt? My thoughts… — Steve Kwan, Fighting Matters 2:49

2M ago2:49

2:49

By Fighting Matters

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Antisemitism has no place in Jiu-Jitsu. — Jeff Shaw, Bellingham BJJ 3:31

2M ago3:31

3:31

By Fighting Matters

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Pacific Rim Uprising (2018), Ep. 4: Downtime Is Not Clowntime | Roleplay Retcon 51:54

2M ago51:54

51:54

The training exercise went brilliantly, and now all that's left is the big day. Bon makes some waves. Alex punches out. Amara has range. Content Warnings: PTSD, animal death, weapons of war Guest GMed by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Henn, a.k.a. @iwriterobots⁠⁠⁠⁠! Soundtrack by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BE/HOLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We're playing ⁠⁠⁠⁠Lancer⁠⁠⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Pa…

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A statement on Josh Saunders 7:33

3M ago7:33

7:33

By Fighting Matters

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Teddy Roosevelt Was a Jiu-Jitsu Badass 1:02:41

3M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan of BJJ Mental Models and Jeff Shaw of Bellingham BJJ uncover the forgotten history of Jiu-Jitsu in America, and how none other than President Theodore Roosevelt played a pivotal role in its rise. Between 1900 and 1906, Roosevelt brought Jiu-Jitsu into the White House, trained with Japanese masters, an…

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Trans Characters in Anime: A History | Episode 107 | Asians Represent! 1:56:49

2M ago1:56:49

1:56:49

Liana and Emma sit down and discuss trans and gender non-conforming characters in Anime over the years, examining characters from popular series ranging from 1981 to present. They discuss how things are handled, how things have changed, and what series succeed and fail. *//SUPPORT*Help us produce new and exclusive content! Join us on Patreon for ex…

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Pacific Rim Uprising (2018), Ep. 3: Kaiju? Gesundheit | Roleplay Retcon 49:32

3M ago49:32

49:32

Now that Amara has learned the ropes in her new Jaeger, it's time for a combat exercise against Jake's three simulated Kaiju. It's also a good way to get to know her new squadmates, who don't have any personal problems at all. Content Warnings: Violence, gore Guest GMed by ⁠⁠⁠Henn, a.k.a. @iwriterobots⁠⁠⁠! Soundtrack by ⁠⁠⁠⁠BE/HOLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

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America is still worth fighting for. — Jesse Walker, Fighting Matters 5:04

3M ago5:04

5:04

By Fighting Matters

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July 4th Meditations on Being American. — Mike Mahaffey, Old Bastard BJJ 5:16

3M ago5:16

5:16

By Fighting Matters

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BONUS: House of Cards (with Fiona Howat, Daniel Kwan, and Jon Taylor) 2:25:46

3M ago2:25:46

2:25:46

For the One Shot Patreon Drive, we played Ben's secret project: House of Cards, a horror game about survivors trying to escape a labyrinth of seemingly endless rooms from different houses and eras. Fiona Howat from What Am I Rolling?, Daniel Kwan from Asians Represent!, and Jon Taylor from System Mastery joined us!…

1
How Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" Will Cripple BJJ 1:06:08

3M ago1:06:08

1:06:08

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan of BJJ Mental Models and Jeff Shaw of Bellingham BJJ examine the sweeping consequences of Trump’s newly passed “Big Beautiful Bill,” and how it threatens the future of Jiu-Jitsu in America. This legislation is poised to eliminate healthcare for millions, deepen economic inequality, and significantly e…

1
🧬 Real Talk: What Science Says About Gender Differences 51:14

3M ago51:14

51:14

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Stephan Kesting of Grapplearts and Jeff Shaw of Bellingham BJJ sit down with clinical psychologist, author, and BJJ black belt Dr. David Ley to challenge everything you think you know about gender. Is “alpha male” behavior really about dominance and strength? Or is it just bad psychology wrapped in influencer hy…

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Daniel & Drew Review KPop Demon Hunters | No Dice, No Problem #36 47:24

2M ago47:24

47:24

Daniel and Drew's tabletop gaming rivalry intensifies with their first game of Spearhead! Daniel also can't stop talking about the new Netflix animated musical fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters. Trust him, it's really fun! - Support the launch of Daniel's wuxia TTRPG Wandering Blades here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tonyatplusoneexp/wand…

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⚖️ BJJ, Law, and the First Amendment 1:12:20

3M ago1:12:20

1:12:20

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ and attorney/mediator Andrew Burcham for a deep dive into the legal minefield of free speech, particularly how it intersects with combat sports culture and the internet. What does the First Amendment actually protect? Can private comp…

1
One Shot Patreon Drive! 4:00

3M ago4:00

4:00

The One Shot Network Patreon Drive is going on NOW!By Two Fish in a Jug

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🎙️ Giles Garcia Unleashed: Jiu-Jitsu's Voice of Reason 1:14:24

3M ago1:14:24

1:14:24

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models is joined by Stephan Kesting (Grapplearts), Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ), and the incomparable Giles Garcia (Ronin Grappling) for a raw, unscripted deep dive into the political and cultural fault lines running through the Jiu-Jitsu world. From media manipulation to fascist cre…

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Unlocking Chinese American Roots - Genealogy Resources & Research Tips | Episode 106 | Asians Represent! 1:12:12

3M ago1:12:12

1:12:12

Drew and Sean explore the rich world of Chinese American genealogy - from online tools to historical archives and other cultural resources that can help folks trace their family roots. Whether you're reconnecting with your heritage or researching for future generations, this episode of Asians Represent is a great way to level up your understanding …

1
Is the USA Becoming a Handmaid's Theocracy? 59:31

3M ago59:31

59:31

Stephan, Jesse, and Shelby are joined by Eva Schubert from the popular Villains and Virgins Podcast to discuss tactics used by all authoritarian states regardless of whether they are theocratic, fascist, or communist in nature. They examine Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale' in the context of today's political climate and address the need for …

1
What Jiu-Jitsu Gets Wrong About Masculinity 1:15:07

3M ago1:15:07

1:15:07

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ, Mike Mahaffey of Old Bastard BJJ, and mental health advocate David Figueroa-Martinez to challenge the outdated definitions of masculinity still thriving in the Jiu-Jitsu world. Why are men in Jiu-Jitsu still afraid to talk about emot…

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🥋 Jiu-Jitsu Is a Platform. Use It. 58:38

3M ago58:38

58:38

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models sits down with Mike Mahaffey of Old Bastard BJJ and Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ for a raw conversation about why it matters—now more than ever—for Jiu-Jitsu practitioners to speak out. Why do so many people say “keep politics out of the gym”? What does it really mean to use …

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Daniel & Drew Tell Killer Stories | No Dice, No Problem #35 1:00:52

3M ago1:00:52

1:00:52

Daniel and Drew discuss the new Predator: Killer of Killers animated movie, poop knives, their growing Warhammer 40K rivalry, and as always, answer YOUR questions on this episode of No Dice, No Problem! - Support the launch of Daniel's wuxia TTRPG Wandering Blades here: ⁠⁠https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tonyatplusoneexp/wandering-blades⁠⁠ //SP…

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It's time for the Jiu-Jitsu community to speak up. 4:31

3M ago4:31

4:31

By Fighting Matters

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🦠 Why MRSA is so dangerous for grapplers 1:17:18

3M ago1:17:18

1:17:18

We're doing this episode in light of Ben Askren's battle with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models sits down with Jeff Shaw of Bellingham BJJ and Dr. Clayton Green, a board-certified dermatologist and microbiologist, to dig into one of the scariest health threats …

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A Family Affair | Episode 105 | Asians Represent Charity Actual Play 3:08:43

3M ago3:08:43

3:08:43

Asians Represent is back with a charity actual play benefiting AAPI United! Liana facilitated "A Family Affair", a Valor adventure she contributed to Unbreakable: Pathways. Unbreakable: Pathways is a collection of Asian-centric adventures that showcase the intersections of culture, tradition, and experiences utilizing a plethora of Tabletop Rolepla…

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Extremist “Active Clubs” Are Infiltrating Jiu-Jitsu 1:00:57

4M ago1:00:57

1:00:57

Neo-Nazis are infiltrating Jiu-Jitsu—and most of us don’t even know it’s happening. In this episode of Fighting Matters, we’re joined by investigative journalist Mack Lamoureux to expose the rise of “active clubs”: decentralized extremist groups using martial arts like Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai as recruiting tools for white supremacist and neo-Nazi c…

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Pacific Rim Uprising (2018), Ep. 2: Jaeger? I barely know'er | Roleplay Retcon 54:51

4M ago54:51

54:51

Amara and Jake are in hot water with the Pan Pacific Defense Council, but Jake's surprising connection offers them a job in exchange for freedom: Help revive the dying Jaeger pilot training program. Content Warnings: Profanity, heavy weapons, family trauma Guest GMed by ⁠⁠Henn, a.k.a. @iwriterobots⁠⁠! Soundtrack by ⁠⁠⁠BE/HOLD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We'…

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Jordan Klepper's Investigation into the MMA and MAGA Connection, with Luke Thomas 57:13

4M ago57:13

57:13

Luke Thomas just appeared on The Daily Show with Jordan Klepper to talk about how the UFC has become a tool of radicalisation for the MAGA movement, so we invited him onto Fighting Matters to dig a little deeper. You can watch the original segment on Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePbMNq8m7Jw Follow Luke Thomas on…

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Pacific Rim Uprising (2018), Ep. 1: What's Amara with You? | Roleplay Retcon 1:00:46

3M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

The Kaiju attacks ended long ago. Now, scavengers pick through the ruins of Los Angeles to find Jaeger parts, either to re-sell on the black market or for making homebrew machines of their own. Both mech wunderkind Amara Namani and Jake Pentecost, son of fallen Kaiju conflict hero Stacker Pentecost, have infiltrated a Jaeger graveyard to find a val…