Best Doug Lief Podcasts (2025)

1
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 3:09:56

Play Pause

1d ago3:09:56

3:09:56

The stakes continue to rise as the last hope for Middle Earth faces the looming of The Two Towers. We're joined by wicked, tricksy hobbitses from the Media / Lit Podcast, Kris Ingersoll and Randy Allain to revisit the middle chapter in Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece. From its landmark special effects, to one of the great…

1
Still Loading #375: Boku no Natsuyasumi 2 w/ Ray Barnholt and Andrew Kinsey 1:41:11

2h ago1:41:11

1:41:11

Just because it's November doesn't mean we still can't enjoy the summer. In this episode of Still Loading I am joined by Ray Barnholt from the No More Whoppers podcast (and occasionally Retronauts) and Andrew Kinsey from The EXP Point to talk about the summer of 1975, specifically the summer as seen in the game Boku no Natsuyasumi 2: Umi no Bouken-…

1
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 2:50:45

4d ago2:50:45

2:50:45

Frodovember continues as we begin the quest to destroy the One Ring with guest Dave Jackson (the "Tales from the Backlog" podcast). Released to massive critical and financial sucess in 2001, the first film of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy masterfully condenses and adapts the first third of Tolkien's seminal work with winning performance…

1
Still Loading Mini #52: The Legend of Zelda Cartoon E9 47:55

1d ago47:55

47:55

Sometimes you're the stinger, sometimes you get stung. In this episode of the Legend of Zelda cartoon, Link gets both! Dexter Morrill returns as my co-host with the mo-host and we dive into the 9th episode of the Legend of Zelda cartoon, Stinging a Stinger. In this episode we meet a strange man named Sleezenose who is definitely not a bad guy, we c…

1
Still Loading #374: The Adventures of Bayou Billy w/ Josh Folan 1:42:14

4d ago1:42:14

1:42:14

We gon' huntin' gators! In this episode of Still Loading we trek through the bayous of Louisiana to play The Adventures of Bayou Billy. I am joined by host of the Imperial Scrolls of Honor Podcast, Josh Folan, to rescue our beloved Annabelle from the clutches of Godfather Gordon. We discuss the game's localization, why its so damn hard, where Billy…

1
The Hobbit 2:09:26

4d ago2:09:26

2:09:26

The greatest adventure is what lies ahead, as Frodovember begins with the 1977 Rankin Bass adaptation of The Hobbit. We go there and back again with guest podcaster Case Aiken (Another Pass, Men of Steel) to enjoy our mutual first experences with Middle Earth and the works of J.R.R. Tolkein. You can support Case and his network, CertainPOV, at patr…

1
Coraline 1:09:32

6d ago1:09:32

1:09:32

Be careful what you wish for this Halloween. On this special it's a family affair as the Other Doug and the Other Ami welcome their children Celeste and Ben into the other world of 2009's Coraline. This stop-motion masterpiece spins a web and puts a button or two on a modern Grimm fairy tale about how the grass seems greener on the other side of a …

1
The Colour Out Of Space 1:18:32

20d ago1:18:32

1:18:32

For this year's Halloween bonus reading, we're going down to Nahum's farm and taking a gander at "The Colour Out Of Space", cosmic horror master H.P. Lovecraft's unsettling tale of a chromatic contagion from beyond the stars. Be sure to also check out our monthy musical podcast, Playing By Ear! - https://playingbyear.fireside.fm If you have feedbac…

1
Fright Night 2:22:48

10d ago2:22:48

2:22:48

Hi-Diddly-Ho, neighborino! When Jerry Dandridge moves in next door, young Charlie Brewster's worst fears are confirmed, leading to a one-of-a-kind horror comedy that, unlike Jerry, does not suck. Guest comedian and filmmaker Tarik Davis (@tarikrdavis, tarikrdavis.com) joins us to stake out this meta Halloween tale that we're happy to invite into ou…

1
Still Loading #373: Parasite Eve w/ Michael Berger 1:38:37

11d ago1:38:37

1:38:37

The mitochondria do all the talking this week on Still Loading. To wrap up Backlog Month I am joined by friend of the show Michael Berger from the Bits of Time podcast to talk about Squaresoft's foray into horror, Parasite Eve. Based off a book on the same name, Parasite Eve is a horror JRPG that came out in 1998 and has become a bit of a cult hit …

1
Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn 1:48:03

18d ago1:48:03

1:48:03

There's only one word to describe Evil Dead 2 - Groovy! On this episode we're joined by deadite Dan Oster (MadTV, A Podcast, But Evil) to accidentally read from the Necronomicon and summon Sam Raimi's wild ride of horror, gore, and comedy that literally takes a chainsaw to just about everything. Headlined by human cartoon Bruce Campbell, the film r…

1
Still Loading #372: Golden Sun w/ Aaron Klaassen and Chris Dominguez 2:16:53

18d ago2:16:53

2:16:53

We're gonna be gonna be golden! This week on the show I am joined by Aaron Klaassen from Super Ghost and Chris Dominguez from Consoles and Stuff to talk about the GBA JRPG Golden Sun! I first got Golden Sun back in the early 2010s from a Game Stop near me and never touched it until my patrons voted for it for Backlog Month this year and I am so hap…

1
The Fly (Redux) 2:14:13

1M ago2:14:13

2:14:13

Be afraid... be very afraid. For a bonus episode this year we're returning to the subejct of our fourth podcast for a more in-depth look at David Cronenberg's profound and deeply upsetting remake of The Fly. Filmmaker Alex Sosin gets into the teleporter with us for the grossest love story ever made. Check out the teaser for The Canyon here: https:/…

1
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare 2:02:47

1M ago2:02:47

2:02:47

9... 10... we can sleep again because, at long last, Freddy's Dead. For real this time. We mean it. This episode we nod off with Rick Firestone of the Pixel Project Radio podcast to eulogize the undisputed roastmaster of horror, Freddy Krueger. This entry is one of the most unweildy in the franchise, but it still carries the series' flare for wild,…

1
Still Loading #371: Live A Live w/ Happy Bear 1:27:46

27d ago1:27:46

1:27:46

Episode 2 of this year's Backlog Month features a game very different from last week's. Backlog month this year is RPG heavy and one of those RPGs we are looking at is Live A Live. Live A Live is an RPG from Square Enix that originally released back in 1994 for the Super Famicom but was later given a remake and published world wide in 2023. Joining…

1
The Thing 1:51:51

1M ago1:51:51

1:51:51

Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens? 1982's "The Thing" was a critical and commercial failure, until its insidious genius began an infection that has spread to its complete takeover as a horror landmark. Comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to examine this brilliant, grotesque, and paranoia-inducing film. B…

1
Still Loading #370: Castlevania w/ Jeremy Parish 1:32:33

1M ago1:32:33

1:32:33

Backlog month 2025 kicks off with a big one! It's Castlevania. I covered Castlevania a LONG time ago on the show but that was before I had beaten it and it was very early in my podcasting career. So I figured putting it on my backlog month poll earlier this year was a perfect way to take another crack at this iconic NES game. But... A special game …

1
Mariah Carey 2:03:16

2M ago2:03:16

2:03:16

We give our full-throated endorsement to Mariah Carey, an artist of immense talent, superhuman vocal ability, and hit after hit after hit after hit. Friend-of-the-pod Ryan Merlo, podcaster Ami Lief (Playing By Ear), and comedian Eileen Mayse (@i_lean) roudntable their favorite tracks from Mimi's illustrious career. Be sure to also check out our mon…

1
Still Loading #369: Gris w/ Emily Merritt and Kate Hunter 1:34:53

1M ago1:34:53

1:34:53

Indie games are awesome. They try so many different and unique things or have unique spins on classic game design ideas. This week on the show I am joined by Emily Merritt and Kate Hunter from the No Small Games podcast to talk about an indie game that pushes emotional storytelling without dialogue and explores grief in a way I haven't experienced …

1
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 2:24:28

2M ago2:24:28

2:24:28

Anything goes in Indiana Jones' second (but technically first) outing. The film is flawed, but relentlessly entertaining, buoyed by engaging performances from future Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan and villain expert Amrish Puri. We make a meal out of this classic with filmmaker Alex Sosin (The Canyon) and fondly reminisce about a movie that has its heart…

1
Still Loading Mini #51: The Super Mario Bros. Super Show E9 48:30

2M ago48:30

48:30

Here comes Mama Mario! In this month's mini episode Dexter Morrill and I break down episode 9 of the Super Mario Bros Super Show! In one of the more wild episodes of we've seen yet we end up meeting Mario and Luigi's Mom, discussing the logisitics of carb loading, Luigi not understanding what the word "default" means and Fry Guy loan sharks. Follow…

1
Bruce Springsteen 2:27:21

2M ago2:27:21

2:27:21

For over five decades Bruce Springsteen has been The Boss. Combining profound but accessible, empathetic, and comforting lyrics buoyed by anthemic melodies that can electrify stadiums, Bruce and his collaborators in the E-Street Band embody the spirit within all of us that yearns to be moved, and to be free. Tramps like our guests, improviser Dan O…

1
Still Loading #368: Muppet Treasure Island w/ Doug Lief and Mike Covel 1:40:48

2M ago1:40:48

1:40:48

The Muppets are iconic and it has been long overdue since I discussed them on the podcast. Joining me today to help me talk about a childhood favorite of mine is... my brother Mike as well as Doug Lief from the Nostalgium Arcanum podcast! The game on this episode is Muppet Treasure Island, based on the movie of the same name. Mike, Doug and I break…

1
Super Mario World 1:37:46

2M ago1:37:46

1:37:46

35 years later Super Mario World remains a high watermark in video games. The venerable plumber and new pal Yoshi the dinosaur's adventure features pixel perfect platforming, satisfying secret scouring, and whimsical wonder. Guests podcaster Matt Storm a.k.a. Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite) and comedian Rich Baker (richbakercoaching.com) h…

1
Still Loading #367: Early Video Game Emulation w/ Zophar 1:28:53

2M ago1:28:53

1:28:53

Emulation is a polarizing subject in video games. While I personally feel its not a bad thing there are people who only associate with piracy. So I figured who better to talk about this topic than the founder of one of the earliest emulation websites, Zophar. Zophar founded Zophar's domain back in 1996 as a way to aggregate emulation information an…

1
The Running Man 2:31:43

3M ago2:31:43

2:31:43

It's time to start running! Cheesy, gratuitous, and satirically biting, The Running Man showcases everything that makes 80s movies great, and why no one can anchor a film and deliver one, two, and three-liners like Arnold Schwarzenegger. We're joined by a full panel to stalk this classic including comedian Rich Baker (@ricbakercoaching), filmmaker …

1
Still Loading #366: 1999 - The Year Low Culture Conquered America w/ Ross Benes 1:16:05

2M ago1:16:05

1:16:05

A huge part of video game history is context. Context surrounding a game's development, context surrounding a game's release, context of the time and place the game was made during. Context informs how we interpret the past. This week on the show I am joined by author and journalist Ross Benes to talk about his book "1999: The Year Low Culutre Conq…

1
Green Day 2:10:53

3M ago2:10:53

2:10:53

Welcome to paradise! Green Day exploded in the '90s, matured into a political force in the '00s, and continues to blend pop, punk, and power to this day. We're joined by comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) musician and podcaster Kyle Lieberman (Playing By Ear) and his daughter Ali to celebrate the legacy of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Drrnt, an…

1
Still Loading #365: Metroid Prime w/ BritishBondAddict 1:59:29

3M ago1:59:29

1:59:29

We delve the depths of Tallon IV on this episode of Still Loading. I'm joined by returning guest to the podcast Chris (aka the British Bond Addict) to talk Metroid Prime. Metroid Prime is a game that has eluded me for a while. I first played it over a decade ago but never got around to beating it even though I made it over 90% through the game. Tha…

1
Tango & Cash 2:37:11

3M ago2:37:11

2:37:11

Tango & Cash typifies 1980s action excess and buddy-cop odd-couple comedy as Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell play the titular loose cannons with a complete disregard for police procedure and the laws of physics. We're joined by guest podcasters Josh Covel (Still Loading) and Dan Oster (A Podcast, But Evil) to settle scores and spew one-liners. …

1
Still Loading Mini #50: The Legend of Zelda Carton E8 55:40

3M ago55:40

55:40

More Zelda cartoons can't be a bad thing right? Joining me is my co-host with the mo-host Dexter Morrill to break down the 8th episode of the Zelda cartoon, Doppleganger. We talk about goth Zelda, Link's Kink's, uncomfortable kisses and Bob Ducca's list of bizarre ailments. As usual, what does that actually mean!? You will have to listen and find o…

1
Songs of 2001 2:54:25

3M ago2:54:25

2:54:25

2001 was nothing like what Stanley Kubrick promised, but the music of that year continued to expand into a wide variety of different directions. Guests Ami Lief, musician Kyle Lieberman, and comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) join us to roundtable our top ten songs of 2001. Be sure to also check out our monthy musical podcast, Playing By Ear!…

1
Still Loading #364: Deconstructing the Nintendo Bump w/ Chris Coplien and St1ka 1:46:18

3M ago1:46:18

1:46:18

I love Nintendo. I still do. This company makes some of my favorite systems and games and has also given me some of my favorite memories. But even with my love of Nintendo its hard to overlook their negatives, even if those negatives are not Nintendo's fault. This week on the show I'm joined by Chris Coplien from Retro Hangover and St1ka from the Y…

1
Ninja Gaiden 1:20:49

4M ago1:20:49

1:20:49

1988's Ninja Gaiden was a leap forward in video game storytelling, featuring splashy cut scenes, a propulsive soundtrack, and notorious difficulty. Ryu Hayabusa faces off against military goons, relentless wildlife, and otherworldly grotesque demons in his quest to keep Jaquio and the forces of darkness at bay. Guest comedian Rich Baker (@richbaker…

1
Still Loading #363: ROMChip - A Journal of Game Histories w/ Laine Nooney 1:03:34

3M ago1:03:34

1:03:34

Video game history is more than just what is shown on YouTube and in podcasts. Joining me on this episode of Still Loading is Laine Nooney and they are the managing editor of ROMChip. ROMChip is an academic journal of game histories that's focus is to advance the critical work of games studies. In short, they publish peer reviewed articles, intervi…

1
Billy Joel 2:09:48

4M ago2:09:48

2:09:48

For the longest time Billy Joel's music has thrilled generations. Guests podcaster Matt Storm a.k.a. Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite) and comedian / musician Dylan Ris (www.lostmoonradio.com, www.themoonunits.com) are in the mood for a melody, and this episode will have you feeling alright. Be sure to also check out our monthy musical podca…

1
Still Loading #362: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker w/ Supertendo 2:28:14

4M ago2:28:14

2:28:14

This week we set sail for adventure here on the Still Loading Podcast. Joining me is new friend to the show Supertendo to talk about the originally maligned but now beloved Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Despite being more beloved now, Wind Waker had a very polarizing launch back in 2002 when it came out. This was not the Zelda mo…

1
Destroy All Monsters 1:08:46

4M ago1:08:46

1:08:46

It's mosnters versus aliens as Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, and company find themselves at the mercy of an extraterrestrial menace in 1968's "Destroy All Monsters". Why have one kaiju when you can have them all? We don rubber suits and stomp on model cities with guest Joe Mastropiero aka Joedecahedron of the Dice Training podcast to celebrate a franchi…

1
Still Loading Mini #49: The Super Mario Bros. Super Show E8 57:33

4M ago57:33

57:33

You ain't nothin' but a groundhog! This month's cartoon episode is on the Super Mario Bros. Super Show Episode 8, "Love 'em and Leave 'em". Dexter is of course back and we had a lot of discuss on this one. We chat about the observational skills of our intrepid heroes, what hot pepper pistacio ice cream would taste like, why love potions are super p…

1
The Princess Bride 2:21:41

4M ago2:21:41

2:21:41

You asked for something special for our 150th episode so all we can say is "as you wish." The Princess Bride is inconceivably perfect. The film has everything - fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles, and a superlative cast and script to bring it all together. Guest comedian and filmmaker Tarik D…

1
Still Loading #361: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle w/ TroytlePower and Thrak 2:23:53

4M ago2:23:53

2:23:53

Whip sounds abound in this episode of Still Loading. I'm joined by TroytlePower of Geek to Geek Media and Thrak from the 3DO Experience to go on a rip-roaring adventure of punching some nazis. And no, this is not a continuation of Punch a Nazi month, but it is kind of a spiritual sequel to it. We are talking about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle…

1
Songs of 1998 3:03:39

5M ago3:03:39

3:03:39

By 1998 the grunge and gangsta rap of the early 1990s had petered out. Ska came and went. Musical tastes had begun to drift, and our year-review reflects these tectonic shifts with mainstream pop ascendant and indie artists beginning to peek through. Guests Ami Lief, musician Kyle Lieberman (Kyle and the Silver Dork), and comedian Rich Baker (@rich…

1
Still Loading #360: Final Fantasy X-2 w/ Rick Firestone 2:13:37

4M ago2:13:37

2:13:37

Back in 2020 I did an episode on Final Fantasy X. Five years later there is finally a sequel to that episode where I talk about the sequel to that game! Joining me this week is Rick from Pixel Project Radio to help me change in and out of numerous costumes as we discuss the first ever direct sequel in the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy X-2. X-…

1
Back to the Future 2:33:07

5M ago2:33:07

2:33:07

What is a nostalgia podcast if not a time machine? We're firing up the flux capacitor and setting the time circuits to Back to the Future for the 40th anniversary of this seminal temporal comedy. We're joined by guest Darren Lanning (darrenlanning.com) to celebrate a film so heavy that its success was practically density. Be sure to also check out …

1
Still Loading #359: Retro Gaming in High Fidelity w/ Try from My Life in Gaming 2:11:10

5M ago2:11:10

2:11:10

As time goes on the games and the consoles we grew up with have a hard time keeping up with modern technology. Plug in your NES or Sega Genesis into a modern HD TV and it just doesn't feel the way you remember it. You may ask, did my games always look and play like this? The answer no. Well sort of... Returning to the show today is my good friend T…

1
Singularity Minus Twelve w/ Karl Hörnell 1:03:01

5M ago1:03:01

1:03:01

BONUS EPISODE! For a surprise bonus episode, I sat down to chat with Karl Hörnell to talk about his recently released speculative fiction novel Singularity Minus Twelve. Karl is also a game designer who was fairly prolific on the Commodore 64 back in the 80's along with web based gaming in the later 90's/early 00's. His novel Singularity Minus Twel…

1
WarGames 1:56:20

5M ago1:56:20

1:56:20

Shall we play a game? 1983's WarGames presciently predicts the dangers of both human intelligence and artificial intelligence that we still wrestle with today. In this classic Matthew Broderick accidentally nearly sets World War III into motion by seemingly innocently challenging an AI to a game with potentially apocalyptic consequences. We're join…

1
Still Loading Mini #48: The Legend of Zelda Cartoon E7 56:51

5M ago56:51

56:51

This month's mini episode involves underworld connections... Specifically of the Triforce variety. Dexter Morrill is back and we take a look at episode 7 of the Legend of Zelda cartoon, Underworld Connections. In this episode one of the Triforce pieces gets broken into 3 parts and Link and Zelda must track them down. We learn that the Triforce can …

1
The Sandlot 2:07:57

5M ago2:07:57

2:07:57

The Sandlot is a perfect distillation of childhood dreams, fantasy, fears, and legends that will live on forever... forEVER... FOREVER!!! Guests sultan of swat Randy Allain and king of crash Kris Ingersoll of the Media/Lit podcast join the team to relive endless summers played one base at a time. If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: F…

1
Still Loading #358: Final Fantasy Fantasy Draft 2025 2:20:08

5M ago2:20:08

2:20:08

In honor of the Magic the Gathering/Final Fantasy crossover I figured I should bump up this year's Final Fantasy Fantasy Draft a bit early! Four more guests enter the draft to try and craft the best Final Fantasy they can. This year we had a few first time guests and a few returning ones! As usual this was a TON of fun to record and some wild choic…