Episodes
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[taking a very deep breath]
On this enormous episode of Around the Long Fire, we finally finish the Poetic Edda! It ends really well, but with a surprising difference between our two versions. The cartoon Em mentions is Zack Snyder's "Twilight of the Gods", for the record. After an extra long Saga segment, we briefly talk about the election (please read Em's friend Madiha's blog about waking up the day after carrying on as we always do), Em talks about the first third of the book Independent People, Em is reading Clamp manga Tokyo Babylon, Niamh talks about travelling to get hololive merch with faer kid, we compare our Culvers orders as Jailbirds must, we have a vtuber corner (featuring Mint's 3.0 karaoke), we both talk about wrapping up How Do We Relationship? so far (up through Volume 11) and talk about how the girls continue to speak directly to our memories, Niamh talks a bit about Still Sick, and then we have a very extended Metaphor segment where we might not actually play very much (up to reaching the third city) but also talk about Personas 3, 4 and 5 and go on at length about what we like about the storytelling of Atlus games at large. Also mentioned are Evangelion and Pastoral: To Die in the Country. Peppered throughout with talk about life and trauma, as we always do. Truly we're cooking on our bullshit so much in this episode, it's great.
See the show schedule here! This’ll tell you which versions of books and which sections of those books we’re reading each week.
Niamh podcasts on Export Audio with Ghost Divers, Ornate Stairwells, and Pondering Pootan. Posting on twitter @foxmomnia and on bluesky at foxmomnia.bsky.social
Em hosts Abnormal Mapping and Repertory Screenings on abnormalmapping.com and also is the Pokemon Master of Ceremonies on The Great Gundam Project. They post on twitter @em_being and on bluesky at polarbearsummer.online
Next episode: Örvar-Odds saga, ch. 1-18, from Arrow-Odd, trans. Hermann Pálsson and Paul Edwards, published in Seven Viking Romances (Penguin Classics)
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We continue with Gudrun’s vengeance against her family, for better or worse, as we begin to wind down the Poetic Edda. On top of that, we have the usual vtuber corner, a big talk about How Do We Relationship?, a health update … and then decide to spill our next season an entire week early because we both finished some prep work we’d done for it!
Then, in our Metaphor Game Club, we wrap up the second major story dungeon, get our bat friend Heismay, and talk about how we’ve been spending our free time around that event.
See the show schedule here! This’ll tell you which versions of books and which sections of those books we’re reading each week.
Niamh podcasts on Export Audio with Ghost Divers, Ornate Stairwells, and Pondering Pootan. Posting on twitter @foxmomnia and on bluesky at foxmomnia.bsky.social
Em hosts Abnormal Mapping and Repertory Screenings on abnormalmapping.com and also is the Pokemon Master of Ceremonies on The Great Gundam Project. They post on twitter @em_being and on bluesky at polarbearsummer.online
Next episode: Parts 30-The End of The Poetic Edda, a new translation by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford World's Classics); The Jörmunrekkr Lays — Guðrúnarhvöt and Hamðismál & Other mythological poems — Baldrs draumar, Rígsþula, Hyndluljóð, and Gróttasöngr
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Missing episodes?
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We have an absolutely jam packed episode this week as not only do we talk about the return of Gudrun and her sorrows, but we also talk a bit about vtubers, we both watch some movies (some classic, some not), Niamh continues to read How Do We Relationship?, and we continue to talk about Metaphor: ReFantazio through the next two hours or so of game (up until you get the 4th party member, which Niamh hadn’t done as of recording this week). Just so many things!
See the show schedule here! This’ll tell you which versions of books and which sections of those books we’re reading each week.
Niamh podcasts on Export Audio with Ghost Divers, Ornate Stairwells, and Pondering Pootan. Posting on twitter @foxmomnia and on bluesky at foxmomnia.bsky.social
Em hosts Abnormal Mapping and Repertory Screenings on abnormalmapping.com and also is the Pokemon Master of Ceremonies on The Great Gundam Project. They post on twitter @em_being and on bluesky at polarbearsummer.online
Next episode: Parts 27-29 of The Poetic Edda, a new translation by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford World's Classics); The Niflung Cycle — Oddrúnargrátr, Atlakviða, and Atlamál hin groenlenzku
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We revisit some of the first stories we read on this podcast, this time in verse form! They’re pretty pleasant, even if they’re a bit disjointed. We take care of some odds and ends before getting into our main event: our Metaphor game club begins in earnest, which contains a few surprises including a new challenger, some mechanical decisions that surprise, and putting the Persona fandom on notice.
See the show schedule here! This’ll tell you which versions of books and which sections of those books we’re reading each week.
Niamh podcasts on Export Audio with Ghost Divers, Ornate Stairwells, and Pondering Pootan. Posting on twitter @foxmomnia and on bluesky at foxmomnia.bsky.social
Em hosts Abnormal Mapping and Repertory Screenings on abnormalmapping.com and also is the Pokemon Master of Ceremonies on The Great Gundam Project. They post on twitter @em_being and on bluesky at polarbearsummer.online
Next episode: Parts 20-26 of The Poetic Edda, a new translation by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford World's Classics); The Niflung Cycle — Brot af Sigurðarkviðu, Guðrúnarkviða I, Sigurðarkviða hin skamma, Helreið Brynhildar, Dráp Niflunga, Guðrúnarkviða II, and Guðrúnarkviða III
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The sagas finally begin to cook as we talk about tragic love and reincarnation and what exactly is a Valkyrie. Also, speaking of tragic love, Niamh watched Twilight movies and Labyrinth, so we have plenty of misplaced sexual angst to pick over. Finally, Em celebrates Kiara’s big day as she had her fourth anniversary live this past week.
See the show schedule here! This’ll tell you whis versions of books and which sections of those books we’re reading each week.
Niamh podcasts on Export Audio with Ghost Divers, Ornate Stairwells, and Pondering Pootan. Posting on twitter @foxmomnia and on bluesky at foxmomnia.bsky.social
Em hosts Abnormal Mapping and Repertory Screenings on abnormalmapping.com and also is the Pokemon Master of Ceremonies on The Great Gundam Project. They post on twitter @em_being and on bluesky at polarbearsummer.online
Next episode: Parts 15-19 of The Poetic Edda, a new translation by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford World's Classics); The Niflung Cycle — Frá dauða Sinfjötla, Grípisspá, Reginsmál, Fáfnismál, and Sigrdrífumál
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The sagas aren’t exactly setting our world aflame this week, so we instead talk a bunch about Licorice Pizza (building off of Ornate Stairwells), vtubers, and video games. In fact, some night say this is the beginning of our lengthy Metaphor game club, to be performed over the next 6-12 months!
See the show schedule here! This’ll tell you whis versions of books and which sections of those books we’re reading each week.
Niamh podcasts on Export Audio with Ghost Divers, Ornate Stairwells, and Pondering Pootan. Posting on twitter @foxmomnia and on bluesky at foxmomnia.bsky.social
Em hosts Abnormal Mapping and Repertory Screenings on abnormalmapping.com and also is the Pokemon Master of Ceremonies on The Great Gundam Project. They post on twitter @em_being and on bluesky at polarbearsummer.online
Next episode: Parts 12-14 of The Poetic Edda, a new translation by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford World's Classics); The Helgi Lays — Helgakviða Hundingsbana I, Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar, and Helgakviða Hundingsbana II
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Odin gets up to trouble, including being weirdly homophobic to his stupid son Thor, in this wild episode of poetry and would-be plays. After that, Em gets a little too real venting about their current medical situation, but then we recover as Niamh talks about vtubers and movies until everyone has a good time again. Thanks for listening, sorry for the emotional rollercoaster this week!
See the show schedule here! This’ll tell you whis versions of books and which sections of those books we’re reading each week.
Niamh podcasts on Export Audio with Ghost Divers, Ornate Stairwells, and Pondering Pootan. Posting on twitter @foxmomnia and on bluesky at foxmomnia.bsky.social
Em hosts Abnormal Mapping and Repertory Screenings on abnormalmapping.com and also is the Pokemon Master of Ceremonies on The Great Gundam Project. They post on twitter @em_being and on bluesky at polarbearsummer.online
Next episode: Parts 7-12 of The Poetic Edda, a new translation by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford World's Classics)
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Season 3 begins as we crack open the Poetic Edda and talk about dwarves, gods, and Odin’s magic. More vtuber chat this week, of course, but it’s also a sleepy week so a bit on the shorter side. Either way, please enjoy!
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: Parts 3-6 of The Poetic Edda, a new translation by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford World's Classics)
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This episode is a bit of a mess as we watch a movie that’s just okay, and also suffer through a weird recording setup (that continued into editing, excuse any scuff this week) as Em is forced to flee their recording room. A bit of a shorter episode as we’ve both been run ragged, but we do have some talk about The State of Social Media near the end.
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: Pages 3-36 of The Poetic Edda, a new translation by Carolyne Larrington (Oxford World's Classics)
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We finally watch the movie whose music we’ve been using since we started! Turns out it’s pretty good, though I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say the best film of Iceland (which some have claimed). Also, we talk a bunch about movies broadly, as Em preps for a Repertory Screenings that ended up not getting recorded (find out why next week).
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: In the Shadow of the Raven (Í skugga hrafnsins)
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Arthur is morted and we are finished! We reach the end of the season as things end on a quiet note, and then talk at length about the Hololive English 2nd concert Breaking Dimensions. Other stuff too, but those are the two big ones! Next week we begin our mini-unit of Icelandic films between seasons!
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: When the Raven Flies (Hrafninn flýgur)
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The penultimate episode of Morte Darthur shows Lancelot truly has learned nothing, Arthur is put in a difficult spot, and the glory of the kingdom falls apart in most dramatic fashion. Then we have some medical situation talk, and our usual chat about what we’ve been up to.
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur, a new Modern English translation based on the Winchester Manuscript by Dorsey Armstrong, chapters 87-END
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We return to the sagas as the grail quest comes to a dramatic conclusion and we lose many of our best heroes. Then, we return to Lancelot, who comes home changed but for how long? On top of that, Niamh finished Chimera Ant in Hunter x Hunter, we talk a bit about movies, and the usual ALF extras.
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur, a new Modern English translation based on the Winchester Manuscript by Dorsey Armstrong, chapters 80-86
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Hi, Em here. We recorded another freeform episode where we just talked about what we’ve been up to and how we’ve been feeling as I recovery from surgery. I watched Niamh’s favorite movie, and we talk about it. There’s some Hunter X Hunter talk, as usual. Spoilers in there through like halfway into Chimera Ant? Anyway, the good news is next week we’re returning to sagas, so please look forward to it!
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur, a new Modern English translation based on the Winchester Manuscript by Dorsey Armstrong, chapters 74-79
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Em was finally released the hospital and immediately wanted to record a little with Niamh that very night. Niamh also had Dia on to talk about the 2006 film adaptation of Tristan and Isolde. Like those legendary lovers, this episodes is two halves that come together to form a single whole. Also there’s some fighting game talk and general catching up.
Dia can be found on twitter @dialacina
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: Just hanging out, no reading!
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NOTE: This episode is an extra week late because Em was in the hospital last week. They're okay now, sorry about that, normal schedule should hopefully resume now!
Niamh’s back and we’re cooking with grail quest! Lancelot is brought low, Galahad is raised up, and more! Also, we talk about Iceland, new vtubers, and much more!
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur, a new Modern English translation based on the Winchester Manuscript by Dorsey Armstrong, chapters 74-79
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It’s the eve of Niamh’s trip to Iceland, and the sagas are finally getting good again to celebrate! We enjoy Palomides’ bullshit, discover the grail was under our nose the whole time, and more! Also, we talk about Tomie (the manga), a little bit of Hunter X Hunter, website building, and more! Please enjoy, we won’t be back for quite a while!
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode IN THREE WEEKS: Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur, a new Modern English translation based on the Winchester Manuscript by Dorsey Armstrong, chapters 66-73
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We’re joined by our first guest Autumn Blake to talk about recent movie I Saw the TV Glow, which deeply affected all of us. We do a big deep dive on the movie and some of our thoughts about queerness and life in a long segment that lasts from 21:00 to about 1:07:00. Before that? Some saga chat! More jousting. After that? Talking about podcasting, other movies, vtubers, and the usual ALF standards. Please enjoy this podcast, it was great to finally record and kind of intense to go through.
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur, a new Modern English translation based on the Winchester Manuscript by Dorsey Armstrong, chapters 59-65
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Niamh went to the arcade, Em watched all the Psycho sequels, and we of course talk a bit about the knights of the round table. Also, a vtubing miracle happens to Niamh (maybe), so really an eventful episode for everyone.
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur, a new Modern English translation based on the Winchester Manuscript by Dorsey Armstrong, chapters 52-58
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After an impromptu week off we’ve returned having only barely remembered the reading to talk about Tristram, questing beasts, and oh so much jousting. These mfers love to joust SO MUCH. Also we chat about movies, including some Em watched based on feedback from last episode. It’s a big sprawling episode, so please enjoy!
Niamh can be found haunting Export Audio with Ghost Divers and Ornate Stairwells (and Pondering Pootan, which has never haunted anyone) and on twitter @foxmomnia
Em can be found working themselves into an early grave here at Abnormal Mapping and on twitter @em_being
Next episode: Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur, a new Modern English translation based on the Winchester Manuscript by Dorsey Armstrong, chapters 47-51
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